Christian Spaniards. The opening of this volume sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of Spanish literature, beginning with Ticknor's preface that recounts his journey through Spain and his encounters with influential literary figures of the time, such as Don José Antonio Conde. He reflects on the political oppression faced by many writers during Ferdinand the Seventh's reign, highlighting how this influenced their works and lives. The text foreshadows an in-depth discussion of the early roots of Spanish literature, particularly marked by the struggle against Moorish invaders and its subsequent developments, laying a solid foundation for the detailed analyses and chapters that follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)