Historian Fernando Garcia de Cortazar dies

Fernando Garcia de Cortazar (winner of the National History Prize 2008) and author of many of the most popular books in his field in recent decades has died in Madrid, at the age of just 79. He died from a sudden illness that forced him to be admitted to hospital three days ago.

Garcia de Cortazar was a Jesuit from Bilbao and also a professor at the University of Deusto. He was also the director of Fundacion Vocento. He was a disciple Miguel Artola's and stood out for his passion to bring History closer to the masses and for not forgetting the cultural and social contexts that underpin all social processes.

Jose Manuel Gonzalez Vesga and his work "Brief history in Spain" became a bestseller in a market that was dominated by fiction. He was attracted to that genre, fiction. He won the Alfonso X el Sabio Award for 'Your Face with the Tide' and 'Someone iced you lips'. These stories were about characters who circulated through historical settings.

He was very active throughout his entire career. He was active in his studies, frequent trips, and writing. He also found time to write scripts and advise on television series about the Civil War. He also regularly attended sessions of the Royal Academy of History.

He was not averse to any subject in the History of Spain, but he mainly focused his attention on the 19th century and the 20th century. He also wrote about Churches, which caused him friction with the Vatican. His most important works include 'History of Spain, art', "The folds of the Tiara", "And when I say Spain" and the more recent "Landscapes of the History of Spain".