[Gocamino] Spanish names; the new book

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,
In Spanish, someone's  personal name is followed by the father's name first and then by the mother's name. As a rule, both names are used.
Thus, the author of the new book "Myths of Santiago" whose name is Ofelia Rey Castelao may be found in Spanish catalogues under her father's name, "Rey", whereas, I expect, in English sources she may appear under her mother's name, "Castelao".
This prolific author has unleashed a veritable polemics storm with the presentation last week of her new book "Mitos del Apostol Santiago" (Myths of the apostle James).  The book,  introduced to the public last Tuesday  at the Reyes Catolicos parador in Santiago, follows a new approach to Xacobean themes by studying the metamorphosis of myths into readily believed historical facts.
Among many provocative assertions contained in the book, the author claims that ancient pilgrims used to go to Toulousse first to venerate the relics of Saint James believed to be there. Another is the author's belief that Francisco Franco actively promoted the image of Santiago Matamoros to reinforce his own projection as a crusader fighting those infidel non-believers, during the Spanish Civil War, that went around burning churches all over the place.
The main point of contention, however,  seems to be the same question that has floated around for the past 10 centuries: "Are the remains of Saint James really in the Santiago Cathedral Crypt?" 
While an extensive scientific investigation conducted by Spanish, U.S., English and French scientists recently concluded that Christopher Columbus is, in fact, buried in the Cathedral of Seville, and traces his genealogy to a family from Catalonia, with extant descendents in Barcelona  (an impressive video of the opening of the tomb and the handling of the remains for DNA identification was shown on the Discovery Channel and is available for purchase), a similar investigation cannot be conducted of the remains in the crypt of the Santiago Cathedral because a Papal Bull prohibits intrusions into the tombs of saints.
Reportedly the book is not anti-Santiago, but rather a study of the phenomenon that propels so many thousands of us to Santiago, and an earnest  search for whatever verifiable historical facts may exist.
Ms. Rey Castelao is a medieval history professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela; she has been involved in the study of the Camino since she earned her PhD with a dissertation about it thirty years ago.  
As soon as I get the book and read it I'll know more.  The information above comes from the, quite a few,  articles that have been published in the Galician newspapers since the introduction of the book. 
Hugs!
Rosina
p.s. There are 217 (two hundred and seventeen) mini-videos about  the "Camino de Santiago" listed in YouTube! 
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