From Teresa de Ávila to Cervantes to Zafón. This now updated standard work in its fourth edition presents a broad panorama of Castilian literature, from the Moorish-Christian-Jewish coexistence through the Siglo de Oro to contemporary literature, including film. It provides insights into entire epochs as well as specific topics, such as the picaresque novel, the "corral" stage, or the "Generations" of '98 and '27. Individual texts, from "Don Quijote" to Marías' "Corazón tan blanco," are explored in the context of their time of origin. A distinct narrative thread is provided by the over 300 illustrations from all periods of Spanish culture. For the fourth edition, the chapters on the 18th century and the present have been significantly expanded. The section on the post-Civil War period (1975-2010) has been completely redesigned.