For many centuries Spain was a land of battles as Spaniards and Moors fought for supremacy of the peninsula, city by city, and kingdom by kingdom. Against this background of struggle, historical heroes became the subject of legend and ballad. Travelling troubadours recorded their deeds of valour in the epic tales of El Cid Campeador and his famous sword Colada, and of Bernaldo de Carpio, champion of Castile. These and many other stories will be found in this collection, together with gentler tales of courtly love and mysterious legends of sourcery and magic.. The book concludes with a selection of humorous romances, including Don Quixote, and less well known tales such as Lazarillo de Tormes and Guzman de Alfarache.