The following book review is taken from the English Churchman, of 17th December, 1948. We went through our own copy of this book, but a friend took it for a reading before we had an opportunity of writing a review:—
Secret Journey Through Spain. By Björn Hallström. Translated by A. C. Adcock. (Lutterworth Press.) 3s. 6d.
This book has already formed the subject of front-page notes and of a full-length leading article. But it has received so little notice in some quarters, and is of such vital importance for our day, that we gladly bring it to the attention of our readers once more.
Mr. Hallström returned last year from a journey to Spain and wrote articles for the daily Press in Scandinavia. This book is compiled from those articles and has been capably translated by the Rev. A. C. Adcock, vicar of Dorney, Bucks.
The journey through Spain was made to investigate the position of the Protestant churches and, as a visa was refused, had to be undertaken secretly. Björn Hallström did his work thoroughly, and although in no sense a bigoted opponent of Romanism, gives a tragic picture of life behind the Iron Curtain along the Pyrenees and Atlas mountains. He found a new Inquisition, with closed churches, worship under police supervision, imprisonment of Protestant pastors, and an incredible intolerance and superstition. Spain is the only country in Europe where the Bible is forbidden literature.
Every Protestant should read this book and get others to read it. Members of Parliament, delegates to the United Nations, supporters of Western Union, enlightened Roman Catholics, and all who are working for true peace in the world and true religious liberty, should give it the weight it deserves.
Some readers may be interested to know that Chiniquy’s book, Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, can be had new, with excellent binding, from The Protestant Truth Society, 184 Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. Price 10/6; by post, 11/1. Those who have not read this exposure of the Church of Rome from the “inside,” and are interested, would be well advised to purchase a copy of this book.