Castilian Days: John Hay, Joseph Pennell and the Obfuscation of Politics by Art.

John Hay began his involvement in the diplomatic relations of the United States and Spain during a time of political instability. In Madrid as Secretary at the United States Legation, Hay recorded his thoughts and observations about his host country in Castilian Days, a popular travel book published in 1871. This book helped Hay, an upcoming statesman, to present his political, religious and cultural views to the American public. Three decades later, Secretary of State Hay released a new version of Castilian Days, this time with images. Joseph Pennell's illustrations, carefully composed and artfully drawn, soothed Hay's chauvanistic tone and provided a major policy maker with a new voice for addressing the public. Castilian Days no longer stood as an overt platform for imperialistic ambition; now it also appeared to be an apolitical work of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]