Downfall of a King - Paul Preston - Juan Carlos of Spain - 2026 Hardback

Downfall of a King by Paul Preston, a revealing biography of Juan Carlos I of Spain.

For decades, he was celebrated as the king who helped save Spanish democracy. Then came the affairs, the money, the elephant hunt and one of the most spectacular royal falls from grace in modern Europe.

Paul Preston traces Juan Carlos's extraordinary life, from the prince groomed under Franco to the popular monarch credited with helping Spain make the transition to democracy and confronting the attempted military coup of 1981.

But his heroic public image eventually began to collapse. A disastrous elephant-hunting trip in 2012, revelations about extramarital relationships and scrutiny of his finances contributed to a crisis that culminated in his abdication in 2014 and later departure for Abu Dhabi.

Preston explores both sides of this remarkable story, examining Franco's legacy, political corruption, the Spanish establishment and the uneasy position of the monarchy in modern Spain.

A substantial 544-page biography from one of the leading historians of modern Spain, of particular interest to readers of European history, politics and royal biographies.

2026 William Collins hardback, first printing, with dust jacket.

Very good used condition, with light signs of handling and minor dust jacket wear. The book itself is exceptionally clean and well presented throughout.

Collection available in Gorey, Co. Wexford, or postage anywhere in Ireland at the buyer's expense.