"Mixing historic anecdotes and regret over his own scandals, Spain's exiled king Juan Carlos I seeks to reconcile himself with his family and nation in newly-published memoirs that offer dramatic reminiscences from one of the last surviving players of 20th-century history. From holding Franco's hand on the dictator's deathbed to helping defuse a coup, the 87-year-old reviews well-known moments from Spain's history in his 500-page book, published in French on Wednesday and in Spanish next month."
"Seeking to mend relations with his estranged son, Spain's King Felipe VI, Juan Carlos also confronts his individual pain and isolation -- from seeing his brother die in a childhood shooting accident to the romantic and financial "mistakes" that drove him back into exile in his eighties. "There is not one day when I'm not overcome by nostalgia," he declares from self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi, in the book, "Reconciliation", co-written with the French author Laurence Debray. "It's like I've got Spain under my skin.""
"He recalls sitting beside Franco -- who acted as an almost "paternal" figure towards him -- as the ailing dictator lay dying in his hospital bed. "He took my hand and said, as if it was his last breath: 'Your highness, I ask you just one thing: keep the country united,'" Juan Carlos recalls. "So I had a free hand to launch reforms, as long as Spain's unity was not endangered.""
Juan Carlos I mixes historic anecdotes and regret over his scandals while seeking reconciliation with his family and nation in memoirs titled Reconciliation. The 87-year-old recounts holding Franco's hand on the dictator's deathbed and being appointed by Franco to succeed him. He recalls ordering rebellious soldiers back to their barracks during the February 1981 coup while wearing a general's jacket. The memoir confronts personal pain and isolation, including a childhood shooting accident that killed his brother and romantic and financial mistakes that prompted his return to exile. The book is co-written with Laurence Debray and appears in French now and Spanish next month.
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