"REAL" PILGRIMS

—  Canterbury Tales  —

First questions first.  What is a pilgrim?

Dante said in the 13th c that '..in a limited sense pilgrim means only one who travels to or returns from the house of St James.."

He suggested that the long distance travelled, and being a foreigner in Galicia, made one a pilgrim. He did not say that pilgrim means one who 'walks' to the house of St James, only 'one who travels'.  Until the invention of the bicycle - and trains, planes and automobiles - the only mode of travel was by boat,  riding a donkey or horse, or foot slogging. Pilgrims used whichever mode of transport was available to them that they could afford. Poor pilgrims walked; middle-class pilgrims might hire a donkey, wealthy pilgrims could hire horses and travel with servants.

Besides Dante, what do the experts say?

A:  Wordnet (i) someone who journeys in foreign lands (ii) someone who journeys to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion.

B:  Wiki Answers (i) someone who goes on a pilgrimage, a visit to a place that is religious

C: Wikipedia:  a pilgrim (lat. peregrinus) is one who undertakes a pilgrimage far afield, traditionally to some place that has religious or historic significance.

D:  Oxford:  a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. The word pilgrim comes (in Middle English) from Provençal pelegrin, from Latin peregrinus, 'foreign'.

E: Websters: (i) a person who wanders about  (ii) a person who travels to a shrine or holy place usually a long distance away.

No mention of walking, only 'travels'. 
According to James Harpur the first pilgrims were the Three Wise Men  who, according to the gospel of Mathew, journeyed from the East to Bethlehem guided by a star to pay homage 'to the one who has been born of the jews." 
Did they walk?  We don't know but it is unlikely.  Most pictures show them riding camels. 

What is a real pilgrim? 
This is the million dollar question that comes up with mind numbing regularity on all the 'camino pilgrim' forums.

Sometimes the answers are so dogmatic and illogical that one can be forgiven for thinking that there are people out there who have a genetic memory of being penitential pilgrims, tramping the pilgrimage trails of Europe in hair-shirts like Godric of Finchale, self-flagellating from one shrine to the next in order to earn indulgences for remission of their sins and time spent in purgatory before they are despatched to heaven or hell.  These are the 'Pilgrim Fundamentalists" who vehemently reject everyone else's claims to the title of 'pilgrim' as profane unless they conform to their naive version of what constitutes a 'real' pilgrim.

So how do they see a real pilgrim?
Firstly, it seems to me that the Pilgrim Fundamentalists' view of a Real Pilgrim is applied exclusively to people making a pilgrimage to Santiago. 

If you are one of the 200 million pilgrims who have visited Lourdes since 1869, chances are that you did not walk there.
Over 4 million pilgrims visit Fatima and each year.
10 Million make the pilgrimage to Guadalupe each year and just as many to Rome, and Jerusalem.
It seems that you can be a pilgrim to these shrines even if you take a luxury bus, go with a church tour or get the TGV.
But, according to the Pilgrim Fundamentalists, you can't call yourself a pilgrim to St James unless you walk to his tomb.  Furthermore, the sanctimonious idea is that you can only be a 'real' pilgrim if you walk every inch of the way on a long distance route because, irrespective of what the Santiago Archdiocese claims, 100km or 200km just won't cut it!  And, God help you if you cheat!  Taking a bus into Burgos, getting a taxi to the next albergue, skipping a few kilometers by taking a train or sending your backpack up a hill by motor vehicle will send you straight to purgatory!
Some Pilgrim Fundamentalist go as far as to insist that in order to qualify as a Real Pilgrim, one should carry a backpack (the heavier the better), stay only in basic pilgrim shelters (not the newer, up-market, private hostels that have sprung up in recent years) and definitely not in a hotel: eat frugal pilgrim meals (no fine-dining in restaurants or bistros) and, one can earn 'real pilgrim' Brownie points if you walk in winter, suffer blisters, tendonitis, shin splints, stress fractures and lose all your toe nails. To qualify as a Real Pilgrim, no pain really means no gain. 

Pilgrim Fundamentalist often refer to 'real pilgrims' as those who attempt to emulate 'tradtional medieval' pilgrims, a completely impossible task considering that mind-set, intention, landscapes, eras have all changed.  Their rather self-righteous criteria only seems to extend to walking, sleeping and eating - they do not apply their rules to the type of clothing a pilgrim should wear or equipment they can carry and paradoxically, even though the modern peregrino is expected to walk to Santiago, he or she is allowed to carry a credit card, travelers cheques, cash passport, iPod, digital camera, use the Internet, or send messages home via their Blackberry.  They can wear gortex boots, sweat-wicking shirts, polypropylene sock, carry telescopic Nordic walking poles and, buy a return ticket home.  The Real Pilgrim is a one way phenomenom.  The rules only apply to the journey there.  Once they arrive they can morph back into their 21st Century skins and fly home.  

So who were the real pilgrim role models?
There exists a confused notion among Pilgrim Fundamentalists that only the mendicant foot-slogging Medieval pilgrim can claim to a be a Real Pilgrim.  Bugger all the other millions who travelled long, dangerous distances in ships and/or on horseback.

Who was the traditional, medieval pilgrim?

Taking into account that the Middle Ages spanned a period of over 1000 years of turbulent change, from the 5th c to the 16thc, trying to conjure up a picture of a representative, traditional medieval pilgrim is more than a little problematic.  There was a melting-pot of rich and poor, pious and impious, penitential and pleasure seeking pilgrims just as there are today. By the 16th century the majority were homeless vagabonds, despised and reviled and treated with great suspicion. 
At a Council of Europe Congress held in 1988 - just after the birth of the modern pilgrimage to Santiago - a speaker elaborated on the decadence of the pilgrimage.

"The oft quoted decline and decadence of the pilgrimage to Compostela started here [16th c], although not in quantitative terms. It was the extreme forms of far-reaching qualitative changes which perverted ideas and practice. It is undeniable that the peregrination religiosa lost ground and that a tendency to depersonalise and externalise pilgrim practices emerged. The circumstances of the age also contributed to this: too few jobs for a rising population, unemployment, robber bands preying on the French routes, criminal acts by pilgrims and, from the 15th century onwards increasing criticism of the peregrination itself." 

And, there must have been a few fashion changes from the 5th C to the 16th Century.  Even though a few Popes decreed a particular dress for pilgrims, why are they always depicted in the same long robes?  We never see pilgrims in tights even though there is a 15th C song about Robin Hood to that effect!  Statues, sculptures and paintings give us an idea of what pilgrims from the different centurieslooked like, what they wore and how they travelled. 

There are just as many pictures of pilgrims on horseback as there are of walking pilgrims.  Some famous pilgrims who went on horseback - and left us their written accounts - include the Poitou priest Aimery Picaud (12th C - Liber Sancti Jacobi), the German Knight Arnold von Harff (15th C - Pilgrimage of the Horseman) and the Italian priest Domenico Laffi (17th C - A Journey Westward to Santiago in Galicia and Finisterre).  Are we, 21st Century pretenders, to strip them of their titles of 'Real Pilgrims" because they did not walk to Santiago?

On the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/ you will find a list of Jubilee Pilgrimages of the Holy Father (John Paul II) from 1979 to 2004.  These include pilgrimages to many countries and shrines including two pilgrimages to Santiago.  Did the Holy Father walk there?  No, of course not.  So, are the Pilgrim Fundamentalists qualified to strip him of his pilgrim title too?

The root of the misconception:
In 1953 the Archdiocese in Santiago decided to award a special certificate to pilgrims who walked at least 100km to the tomb of the saint for religious reasons. (All records of these early certificates prior to 1970 have been lost).  Although the Compostela is based on a 14th C document, it is now considered a souvenir and is no longer used as proof to earn an indulgence.  I reckon this was a mistake.  All prilgrims should be given a document for visiting the tomb of St James - no matter how they arrive there.  It has made the journey more important than the destination.  Some walk all the different routes, planning their holidays around a walk on the camino.  Getting to Santiago is often secondary or not important.

A bit of 'Malice in Wander-land?"
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" said Alice.   "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.  "I don't much care where ...," said Alice.  "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.  (Lewis Carrol)

One often hears pilgrims say - "it is the journey, not the destination that is important".  That is a very un-"traditional pilgrim" thing to say.  The destination held the promise of  redemption (not the journey, even though longer journeys offered a few more days off purgatory) and the Archdiocese has this to say on their website:  "The most important thing here is the Goal, not the Way. Jacobean Pilgrims do not go on pilgrimage for the sake of the Way. Through the Way they do get to the Tomb of Saint James "the Great"."

Walking pilgrims can frame their credentials - these will be their "Certificate of Conscience", proof that they walked to Santiago.
Walking to Santiago is a choice.  Nobody forces you to walk 100km or 1000km - it is your choice.  The fact that you have decided to walk doesn't make you a better pilgrim than the person who saves up all their money to travel to Santiago to visit the tomb of the saint for religious reasons.
A wise lady recently said, "Pilgrim is as pilgrim does" - I think its time to stop all this judgemental, self-righteous nonsense about 'real' pilgrims. 
Over 12 million pilgrims are expected to visit Santiago next year - only 250 000 are expected to walk - and less than 10% will walk more than 114km to the city. Many will journey long distances to reach Spain and the shrine and all have the right to be called PILGRIMS.

2010 HOLY YEAR - "Faithful to the Light"

Click on this link for an explantion and history of Holy Years in Santiago:
http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2008/06/holy-years-in-santiago-de-compostela.php

And on this Xacobeo Blog:  http://blog.xacobeo.es/category/spirituality/langswitch_lang/en/

Spain is counting down the days to the 2nd Holy Year of the new century and the 119th since its inception.  I will be adding news about the Holy Year to this post from time to time.

Presentation Compostela Holy Year 2010 "Faithful to the Light"

SOURCE: http://revistaecclesia.com/

1. PASTORAL LETTER Archbishop Julián Barrio

"Each year, an increasing number of pilgrims set off to Tomb the Apostle James the Great, with the pilgrimage, among other realities, allegory Church, People of God walk toward "citizenship of the saints. In the Holy Year of 1999 I decided to escort the pilgrim Jacobean in its spiritual and pastoral reflection, pilgrimage in spirit and in truth and in 2004 with the Pilgrims for pastoral grace. In this second Compostela Holy Year of the Third Millennium of Christianity to celebrate the 2010, bring to mind the story of the disciples of Emmaus who refer their encounter with the Risen Christ. Also, from his tomb, the Apostle James, the "friend of the Lord" conveys the message that Christ lives and, therefore, the pilgrim has to give this witness, knowing that friendship with the Lord ensures the fertility of the mission of the Christian life: "I have called you friends, because all I heard from my Father I have made known ... and I have set to go and bear fruit and that your fruit is permanent" (Jn 15,15-16 ), Jesus told his apostles. Pilgrim with you, I offer this reflection from the faith with the awareness of knowing that the Lord also comes to meet us, enlightens us with his presence and his word, and delivers us from all fear.
With this hope, thanking this privilege granted to Church particular in Santiago de Compostela Church "Largest and oldest known to all, founded and constituted in Rome by the two glorious Apostles Peter and Paul," communicate the conclusion of the Second Jacobean Holy Year for the third millennium to my diocesan dioceses and sisters from Spain, Europe and other continents, inviting them to journey to Tomb the Apostle to confess faith in the Risen Christ and receive the abundance of divine mercy as a manifestation of God's love for life man. It is an event of grace that we celebrate and share with all the particular Churches, taking care not to undermine the sense of the Camino de Santiago, as the path of forgiveness, for other reasons beyond their spiritual dynamism that St. James Pilgrimage which becomes "penance" on the roads of the accusation of sins, the forgiveness of sins of our neighbor, prayer, almsgiving and humility, you live in a spirit of conversion and that the Holy Year help us to revitalize our Christian life as a vocation to holiness and eternity, asking the Lord to the intercession of St. James, "a man for whom we visit Galicia", that the meeting of the pilgrims with the apostolic tradition, the goal of joy , hope resonates".

So begins Pastoral Letter of Archbishop of Santiago, Julián Barrio, whose letter becomes his "program" to prepare and pastoral life of the Holy Year 2010. The menu is divided into seven chapters and an introduction:

Introduction: It communicates the conclusion of the Second Jacobean Holy Year of the Third Millennium and calls directly on a pilgrimage to Tomb of St. James. It also indicates the main theme of his letter, the Gospel story of the Road to Emmaus, and links it already has the Camino de Santiago.

I. The Resurrection, The foundation and goal in the Christian pilgrimage: In this chapter, Archbishop Julián Barrio a parallel between the Christian pilgrims and pilgrims of Emmaus inviting the Jacobean Pilgrim's commitment.
II. Pilgrim's spiritual food: Following this previous relationship with Emmaus Christian, the Archbishop travels the spiritual foundations of every Christian, accentuated with the pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago. Faith, prayer, the EucharistThe community and the reality of sin and forgiveness are issues that are clearly developed.
III. The pilgrimage, evangelization and event response to the call on the Road: In this aspect, says Mgr District "We need not only teachers but especially witnesses to the faith." This is the chapter that invites the testimony and confession of faith.
IV. The pilgrim and his participation in the life of the Risen: Following the pilgrims of Emmaus, the goal of the journey becomes an experience of encounter with the Risen Christ.
V. The testimony and community experience of faith: "Reaching the goal of his pilgrimage to Tomb of St. James as an encounter with Apostolic Tradition and a renewal of life, Jacobean pilgrims, as the Emmaus pilgrims have returned to the family community, the workplace and the parish, being witnesses of what they have seen, heard and lived with the conviction that history Final of the human person is not confined to the finite ".
VI. Pilgrimage and Christian mission: In this chapter, indicates that the pilgrim, transformed into a new man with the experience inside the Camino de Santiago, must feel the urgency to transform society with their Christian attitudes and Catholic vision.
VII. The Jacobean pilgrimage today: "We welcome the Jacobean Holy Year 2010, the second of the third millennium and in the time of the call transmodernity. It is the Holy Year 119 in the history of the Holy Years Compostela. At a time like the present one marked by human distress and uncertainty generated dramatic lack of solidarity, violence and terrorism, and also for the malaise of a culture that tries to dilute the religious dimension of man, a process which is accompanied by reality of depersonalization that we are suffering, one wonders whether there may still be room for doctrinal and spiritual content, permanent and genuine, this celebration, one of whose manifestations is the most accomplished pilgrimage. If we analyze the statistical data available from the Jacobean pilgrimage, we can see that in the last twenty years the trend in the number pilgrims has always been increasing. Prophetically anticipating what would happen in the last decade of last century, the Bishops of the Camino de Santiago in his pastoral letter in 1988 echoed this flowering when writing: "El Camino de Santiago which leads to Tomb St. James, in the city that bears his name, Santiago de Compostela, Finisterre in Galicia, from the most diverse of Spain and Europe has now again become unusual in recent years. The number of pilgrims who travel to the traditional style of the venerable medieval pilgrimage, along with those who do using modern means of locomotion is steadily growing.

2. POSTER
The poster has been made by the company to Enxeño Galicia Archdiocese Santiago de Compostela. Explanation of the cartel Modesto Gomez, director of Exene Galicia:
We envision the road as a melting pot of people who, with their multitude of colors, pilgrims of the hand toward a goal.
We envision a destination and draw la Quintana peregrina its essence: its threshold of reconciliation, the prelude to the embrace that allows us to open ourselves to the world Obradoiro Glory.
We envision a style and decided to compose a mural can symbolize the plurality of the road: rounded at the base and bottom line at the top, colorful in its origin, while sober and full of air in the top half while chromatic clean, decorated with a scheme which simplifies the interpretation of three distinct parts that intersect naturally: the representation worldly, full of life and color, characterized by a multitude pilgrim, the spiritual, driven in that ethereal mix of chiaroscuro and unencumbered the silhouette of the cross, and a central plane in which the cathedral is the goal of the Path.   Obradoiro blurring the towers in an overhead shot imaginary, we highlight the vision of la Quintana as Plaza with the presentation of Tower Clock and Holy Door in a composition of simple lines and gray, adorned by colorful and rounded lines on special importance.  
At the door are three elements that stand out: first the images that humanize the stone. On the other, forming a central axis, two representations of the apostle. How could it be otherwise in the case of la Quintana, Place of living and dead, an apostle recumbent, which is the guiding light at the end of the road, rises above the door in its niche as a living witness of Christ and the pilgrim who, as a good host, awaits us at home.
To his right, the clock tower stands as a beacon of hope, a symbol of three essential elements: the clarity, the call and time. It's more symbolic of the temple tower. It represents, in descending order, a glimmer of hope that flows from its guiding light, a perennial call to conversion that resonates in each "badalada 'of the BerengariaAnd a gentle discourse of hours to the rhythm of the needles of a clock that evokes our lives and our history. At the base we wanted to establish a modern, simple and illuminating logo: from the Roman era to today, Pilgrim Church, at the hands of the cross and Vieira, icons of Jesus and James, pilgrimage guided by the light of Christ, walking together, hand in hand with faith, from 2010 years ago.

3. PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES

1. Pilgrimage to Santiago de the CROSS of the WORLD of YOUTH (From 3 to 8 August 2010).
Early in the special Holy Year Redemption in Rome, held between 1983 and 1984, John Paul II decided to Basilica San Pedro a large wooden cross of two meters. At the end of this anniversary year the Pope gave this cross to the youth of the Centro San Lorenzo saying "Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of the love of Jesus to humanity and announce to everyone that only in Christ dead and risen find salvation and redemption". But the Pope decided to make a copy of CrossOne is found in the Centro San Lorenzo, permanently, another pilgrim on the five continents.

2. European Youth Pilgrimage (5-8 August 2010)
During the last Holy Year, 2004, Santiago admitted to more than 30,000 young people participating in European Pilgrimage Youth, under the theme "Witnesses of Christ in a Europe of Hope." In 2010 this pilgrimage will be organized while in Santiago Cross of World Day of Youth 2011, to be held in Madrid. The call at the foot of Tomb of St. James between days 5 and August 8 is the most important event of this Holy Year 2010. Compostela bring together thousands of young Europeans, who have the task of building a new civilization in an area of peace, freedom, democracy and pluralism.
3. Other pilgrimages emphasizing:
-- The Archbishop invited as in previous Holy Years Pilgrimage on a pilgrimage to Episcopal Conference Spanish
-- Pilgrimage of 25 French bishops with their diocesan bishops and the Spanish the French way (19, 20 and 21 July 2010)
-- Pilgrimage of the Diocese of Galicia and many of Spain and other countries
-- Pilgrimage of Arciprestazgos and parishes of our diocese
- Pilgrimage of other institutions Church and other social and cultural institutions

4. Operation Office Pilgrim: The times will be from 9am to 21pm. Is currently in dialogue with Xunta Galicia after requesting 16 positions through grants. The bureau will, as usual, be issuing the Compostela and accommodate the different pilgrims.

5. Delegations Diocesan Pilgrimage for Youth and organize activities both in Santiago and along the various walks of Santiago for youth to participate in the welcoming pilgrims. Also during the year for concerts, training courses, theater workshops, vigils, prayer meetings, etc.. in different pastoral areas Diocese to promote volunteerism among youth.

6. Meeting delegates Diocesan Media Church in Spain (January 2010) organized by The Episcopal Conference Spanish and diocesan delegation Media of Santiago de Compostela. Around a hundred delegates and over 50 leading journalists in the world of modern communication, reflect in Santiago on Church and the media.

7. Organization of congresses. Some of them are:
- European Congress on Education and Family (May 2010)
- Congress "Humanism and Progress"
- World Congress Family

- Meeting of Families

- Fourth World Congress of Guilds and Associations (in October 2009, on the threshold of the Holy Year to promote pilgrimage)

8. Official publications being developed and are in press:

- Different explanatory leaflets on the occasion of the Holy Year, their significance and how to win the Jubilee. At this time there will be a first printing of 200,000 copies. They are to be distributed in the Cathedral Santiago, at churches and throughout the Camino de Santiago.

- The Pilgrim's book: a book for all the pilgrims coming the other way on foot. The first printing will be 50,000 copies.

- The liturgical book Cathedral provide participants in the Eucharist. The first print run will be 5,000 copies.

- Catechism of preparation for the pilgrimage, pastoral materials to help prepare his pilgrims road to Santiago. This material is currently being drafted and circulated to all parishes of Galicia and all those who want to work these catechesis.

9. Exhibitions and concerts in Cathedral, San Martin Pinario Seminary.

Documentaries, movies and videos on the Camino

THE WAY - with Martin Sheen as a father who travels to St Jean Pied dePort to retrieve the body of his son (played by real life son Emilio Estevez) after he dies crossing the Pyrenees. 

 

Hundreds of documentaries and films set on the camino are released every year.  You can watch trailers of some on YouTube.  Just type in the words 'el camino de Santiago' and you will be offered thousands of clips.

My favourite documentary movie is:

Within the Way Without by Larry Boulting 2004

The film features Rob Jorritsma as Winter pilgrim, Madoka Mayuzumi as Spring pilgrim and Milena Salgado as Summer pilgrim. Introduction by Sir Richard Attenborough.150 mins, Each DVD numbered and signed by Larry Boulting http://www.csj.org.uk/

El Camino de Santiago no un camino de rosas" (The Way of St James is not a path of roses) Spanish video with English sub-titles interviews pilgrims of many nationalities as well as priests, hospitaleros and volunteers on the Camino Frances incuding the Brazilian poet Lady Foppa. There is a poignant interview with the daughter of Felisa, one of the well-known characters along the way who died in October 2002 at the age of 92. Those who walked the camino before the end of 2002 will remember Felisa, a wizened old woman who had a table outside a ramshackle farmhouse on the side of the road near Logrono with a sign that read, “Higos, Agua y Amor, " (Figs-water and love)   Watch a youtube trailer here. http://www.thefilmwall.com/camino-de-santiago-el-origen-2004/

Welcome; Bienvenido A documentary DVD made by José Alvarez about the traditions of hospitality on the Way of St James, including interviews with hospitaleros in Burgos, San Bol, Rabanal del Camino, Manjarin, Villafranco del Bierzo, Monte del Gozo. 110 mins, English subtitles, some commentary in English. Suitable for World Zone 2. http://www.csj.org.uk/
Trailer:  http://www.caminovideos.99k.org/

Walk with me: the pilgrim road to Santiago Created and recorded by Althea Hayton:

Set of 3 CDs plus booklet Produced by Verulam Productions - Distributed by Wren Publications

Las Peregrinas by Sue Kenny - veteran pilgrim, author, and inspirational speaker returns to Spain, to shepherd a group of first-time women pilgrims (in Spanish known as, Las Peregrinas) on their own individual journeys of self-discovery Available http://www.suekenney.ca/.ca/

The Way – Camino de Santiago, Spain
Filmmaker Mark Shea wished to explore the spiritual affect the Camino (Way of St. James) has on pilgrims, by walking the French Way alone and documenting his own personal experiences. http://overlander.tv/

Discoveries - Spain Pilgrim Route
Visit the ancient route of Camino de Compostela - Leon and Santiago de Compostela, Finisterre the western most point of Europe, and the monasteries of Yesu and Hesu, where modern Spanish is reputed to have been created; a tour of Spain’s greatest vineyards and wineries in the Rioja region; and in La Guardia, a perfectly preserved, grand gothic cathedral doorway in it’s original state, preserved and untouched for centuries. (Anybody know where the monasteries of Yesu and Hesu are, please let me know!)http://www.bennett-watt.com/DiscoveriesSpain-Pilgrim-Route-DVD/productinfo/DVDHD9/

The Way of St. James from "heaven´s" view:
The film documents the exciting real flight adventure in 2009 of Melanie and Andreas in their gyrocopter along the Way of St. James from Germany through France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. DVD Jamesflight - http://www.jamesflight.com/

Ray and Carol's video on their walk along the Frances dragging or pushing a two wheeled cart. I remember watching this one and thinking, “If they could walk the camino pushing that cart over rocky, muddy paths, then I could easily walk it carrying a small backpack!”
http://www.caminovideo.com/

The Surgeon and the Saint: A professional documentary filmmaker who has produced award-winning documentaries for PBS, the Discovery Channel and A&E. He recently finished an hour-long film about his experience on the Camino. The film is also about the relationship between fathers and their grown sons, and about ambition, religion and the meaning of life. http://www.threemenandasaint.com/com/

On Foot to Santiago De Compostela - Uncertain what to do after college, and needing a physical and emotional challenge to sort his head out, Roman Weishaupt sets off from his idyllic Swiss village to follow the pilgrim trail. The documentary follows his 80-day, 1,367-mile walking journey from the Alps to the Pyrenees and beyond. Running Time: 95 mins. http://www.film.com/movies/foot-to-santiago-de-compostela/17065644

Oh Ye of Little Faith
by Paul Tobey contains interviews with modern day pilgrims, a tour of a Refugio, some great stories, beautiful towns, adventurous festivals, interesting people and breathtaking scenery from the road itself. Music by Paul Tobey. Free download:

http://www.paultobey.com/camino-de-santiago/free-movie-download-page.html

St Jacques... la Mecque - French with English sub-titles. Middle-aged schoolteacher Clara and her two brothers, chief executive Pierre and alcoholic layabout Claude, absolutely hate one another. Imagine then their blood-curdling horror when they hear the conditions of their mother’s will. Their substantial inheritance will go to charity unless the three of them undertake the arduous pilgrimage from Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Determined not to lose out on their share of a fortune, the three siblings join the pilgrimage with six other people, including Guy, their guide. http://www.amazon.fr/

The Pilgrim's Way of St. James: Seven Routes to Santiago.

English and german Beate Steger (2007). http://www.amazon.com/



The Naked Pilgrim Brian Sewell's CTV series about the Road to Santiago from England through France to Santiago http://www.csj.org.uk/

El Camino de Santiago - Xunta (A cartoon telling the story of St James and Santiago) (Bought in Santiago)

Pilgrims’ Route to Santiago – English documentary made in 1998 (Bought in Santiago)

Camino de Santiago: by Everest in Spanish. Video on the Camino Frances. (Bought in Santiago)

Santiago de Compostela: Art and History – English. Assoc. Socio-Pedagoxia Galega (Bought in Santiago)

Xunta DVD’s:
La Meta del Camino
El Camino Hacia la Meta Interactive DVD http://www.archicompostela.org/

El Camino de Santiago / Paulo Coelho to Santiago de Compostela (DVD) http://www.amazon.com/

Global Treasures CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO OF COMPOSTELA Spain

by TravelVideoStore.com (Video On Demand)

Way of Saint James: A Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela ~ (DVD - Jul 22, 2008)
Pilgrimages of Europe: El Rocio, Spain & Santiago de Compostela, Spain ~ (DVD - Feb 13, 2004)

Camino de Santiago. El origen - This historical documentary of Galician origin features Mathieu’s, a young Frenchman of the 13th century, passionate search of the Milky Way mysteries. He then moves to decipher the origins of the Camino de Santiago, the oldest- and most famous- cultural and religious route of the Old World.  http://www.thefilmwall.com/camino-de-santiago-el-origen-2004/

The Milky Way (French: La Voie Lactée) is a 1969 film directed by Luis Buñuel. The film is intended to be a critique of the Catholic church, as the modern pilgrims encounter various manifestations of Catholic dogma and heresy. (wiki)

Way of St James: A walking tour of Santiago de Compostela takes you on a tour one sunny August day from the outskirts of the city to the main entrance of the Cathedral. You'll experience the typical sights and sounds of a busy morning, view medieval arhitecture and enjoy performances of Santiago's street musicians.
Visiting the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a complete visual examination of the Pórtico de la Gloria, the Main Altar, the crypt, numerous side chapels and the botafumeiro in full swing. The soundtrack includes the music and prayers of celebration and the echoes and voices of the many visitors to St. James' Cathedral. http://waystjames.com/Video_clips.html

Artiguas

This group of documentaries presented by Carmelo Gomez showcases the main roads to Santiago de Compostela. Every road has two characters as pilgrims who made the journey on foot. Through them we learn the latest news from the road. Carmelo Gomez deals with past history and legends and tell us what they were, how they were formed and what happened to these roads. Running time: 480 minutes. (120 minutes per DVD) Language: English Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Released: 2006
DVD1: Presentation of Our Roads to Santiago Roads Levante 1 & 2
DVD 2: Camino de Madrid : Roads Jacobean Ebro I & 11 Road north of I
DVD 3 Northern Way 2 : Camino English and sea routes Via de la Plata 1 & 2
DVD 4 French Way 1, 2 and 3 : Extension to Finisterre and Jacobean Muxia.
Extra Content: Animated Menus, Scene Selection, Webs, ACOG, associations. http://www.arteguias.com/videorutas.htm

Via de La Plata DVDs: The discs contain fourteen 45-minutes episodes for a total duration of 640 minutes. Each episode covers a specific 80 to 100 kms segment and it completes the entire 1,000 kms of the Via narrating the history and circumstances of its creation over the last 3,000 years, and visiting its most important and emblematic monuments and places. The full title of the DVDs is "Ruta Via de la Plata". http://www.divisared.es/

La catedral de Santiago de Compostela (1959)

Camino de Santiago (mini series) (The Road to Santiago) (1999) Murder mystery on the caminoCast: Anne Archer, Anthony Quinn, Jose Luis Gomez

Online viewing:Miguel de la Cuadra Salcedo en El Camino de Santiago 1h30
http://natgeoadventure.tv/au/Post.aspx?id=21220

YouTube: Thousands of short videos from a few seconds to over 97 minutes in length. Just search for: ‘Camino” ‘el Camino’ ‘Camino de Santiago’ ‘Way of St James’

Coming up...

Read the full article at:http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008862.html

"Road to Santiago," reality TV show

"O Gran Camino"

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO (National Geographic, 2009)

Six-part documentary series following Galician pop star Xoel Lopez as he backpacks from Holland's Haarlem to Santiago, using the the region's 12th-century "travel guide," Codex Calixtinus.

CRIMINAL MINDS(Mark Gordon Co./ABC/CBS) A Camino trip in the episode titles

ROAD TO SANTIAGO (Lazona/Antena 3/ZircoZine, 2009) "Demonology" is the missing link between a demon-possessed murderer and victim. Rodrigo Santiago's $4.5 million couples-in-crisis romantic comedy -- set against the painterly background of Galicia's hills, dales, barns and the Camino -- bowed in April (Warners) and generated $3.6 million in box office, landing it in the No. 4 spot of Spanish films this year.

THE WAY (Elixir/Morena, 2010) In Emilio Estevez's film, Martin Sheen plays an eye specialist who travels to the St. James Way to recover his son's corpse, and finds spiritual redemption on the Way. Shoots Sept. 28.

THE APOSTLE (Artefacto, 2010) Fernando Cortizo's $10 million digital 3-D stop-motion pic is set in rural village Xanaz, which preys upon unsuspecting foreign pilgrims. Cortizo is currently courting international distribution for his murder-mystery that he believes will "offer a beautiful window onto the magical atmosphere of Galicia and the Camino." Release date is July 25.

WHERE IS HAPPINESS? (Pulsar/Filmanova, 2010)Carlos Alberto Riccelli's $4 million Brazil-Galicia romantic comedy about a betrayed wife who walks the Way to get her life back on track. Filmanova's Anton Reixa has high hopes for the film -- especially in Brazil where there's tremendous interest in the Camino. Shoots by spring.

http://www.caminodocumentary.org/

This group of people need help in the final edit and production of their Documentary which is about the experience of walking the life-changing, 500-mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain known as “The Camino de Santiago”. The film follows six strangers from incredibly diverse walks of life, as they attempt to cross a country on foot with only a backpack, a pair of boots, and an open mind. Driven by an inexplicable calling and a grand sense of adventure, each pilgrim throws themselves heart-and-soul into their physical trek to Santiago, and their personal journey to themselves.

In Between - a documentary on the camino frances
http://www.blaastfilm.no//default.aspx?menu=40&id=27

101 BOOKS ON THE CAMINO - Pilgrim stories, guides, cultural, childrens' books

(Most Photos from Amazon.com)

NB:  I wont be adding any new books to this list.  In 2013 there were over 3000 Camino books listed on Amazon.com - mostly English - and thousands more on Amazon.de and Amazon.fr

In 2009, when I started compiling this list of '101 books on the camino' I logged on to Amazon.com books and typed in “el Camino de Santiago”. OMG!! 1,258 results
For ‘Santiago de Compostela’ 6 919 : ‘el Camino’. 37,485 : ‘Santiago’. 66,466 : ‘Pilgrimage’. 148,188

In the largest book store in Spain, the Madrid store owner told me that over 400 new titles had been published (in Spanish) between June 2008 and July 2009 - the majority of those about the Camino Frances.

There are thousands of books on the Camino, some written by professional writers who walk the Camino with the specific purpose of writing a book.  IMHO these are often contrived and in the humourous books the Camino comes across as a hitching post for their gags and jokes. 
Others are written by academics or the clergy - priests, pastors, nuns etc.  Surprisingly, for a non-theist I have found some of these to be amongst my favourite books. 
Many books have been self-published by ordinary pilgrims whose journey moved them enough to make them put pen to paper. It seems that every man, woman and their blog is writing a book about their Camino experience.

I love reading about other pilgrims experiences and have reviewed dozens of books. Some are really good but many, especially those written about the Camino Frances, have started to read as though the writer has followed a ‘write-by-numbers’ template – clones of the same story.  I can hardly bring myself to read another Camino Frances pilgrimage book unless there is something new or unique, with a fresh angle or focus.

Please remember if you are planning to write a book about your walk on the Camino Frances. that although it is an extraordinary experience - for you, and for me (and for the hundreds of thousands of people walk the Camino Frances every year) - every pilgrim has similar experiences, passing through the same physical and spiritual landscape, and they all want to share their experience. Its like being offered 500 different productions of the same play - same dialogue, same sets, same story, but different actors.

My Creative Writing professor told us NOT to write our memoirs unless we were RICH or FAMOUS or, if we had done something so extraordinary that the world would want to read about it!

So, if you are thinking of writing a book about your walk on the Camino Frances, and you are not rich or famous, PLEASE find an original angle or focus otherwise it is going to read like a template story with a different protagonist.

And, please get the spelling of the places and people right - I have read 'Miseta' Mesita' 'Messeta' for the meseta in Spain: and 'hosteleria' 'hospitaler' and 'hostelero' for the guardians of the pilgrim hostels known as 'hospitaleros'. Find a good editor who knows the geography of the Camino so that you don't meet a friend at the Cruz de Ferro who you first met in Triacastela which is three days walk beyond the Cruz!

Here is my 10 point template for writing a book about your camino on the Camino Frances:

1)  Reasons:  I felt called/I read a book..../ I watched a movie/other  ....
2)  Blog:  I started a blog about this exciting event ...........(Give URL)
3) The start:  I started in ... (St Jean, Roncevalles, Pamplona, Seville, Sarria/other...)
4) Rooms:  I slept ....  (in crowded dorms/with snoring pilgrims/ private rooms/paradors/other ....)
5) Food:  I ate... (Bocadillos, patata tortiallas/ Menu del Peregrinos/other .....)
6) Walking:  Day after day I walked in the..... (rain/sun/wind/cold/heat/snow....other)
7) Problems:  I suffered .... (blisters/tendonitis/insomnia/diarrhea/other....)
8) Daily routing:  I walked, arrived, showered, ate, slept. Walked, arrived, showered, ate, slept ...
9) Thoughts:  I thought about ... (all the bad/good/happy/sad things that have happened in my life/other ...)

10)  Other pilgrims: I met ...(Canadians/Australians/Koreans/South Africans/other....)

I arrived in Santiago. Although I am not religious, it was such a spiritual experience that I am a changed person. Amen.

The Book:  And now I want the world to read about it. 

Some people have asked "What angle?" or  "What different focus?" 
You don't have to walk with a donkey (Tim Moore) or with your elderly parent, you don't have to visit your previous lives (Shirley Maclaine) or wrestle with your Master (Paulo Coehlo) but some new insight, something fresh, something that your readers haven't already read dozens times would be nice.

The last book I read incorporated interviews with dozens of women pilgrims.  Another, the legends of each area were woven into the story.  One woman walked in winter.  In the new year I will be reviewing a book written by a young man who walked 450km of the Camino Frances after undergoing a double lung transplant.  Interesting stuff! 


November 2010:  A new book from down under - with a different focus - A Food Lover’s Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela by Dee Nolan.  This book was given to me as a gift and it is a sumptious, rich, gorgeous coffee-table book.  From the tactile baize cover to the full page colour photographs this is a classy book. 

July 2010:  I recently reviewed a new camino book called "Camino Letters" written by a Canadian pilgrim who asked 26 friends to set her a task for each day that she would be walking.  She steadfastly carried out each task and wrote letters to her friends whilst walking.  These 26 letters make up the book.  It is not a travelogue about the camino Frances or a 'how to' book.  It is a fresh, original, funny, sad, heartfelt book about a woman walking with her teenaged daughter and I was delighted to read it and review it for her.

New books: 
Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life
By: Phileena Heuertz, Phyllis Tickle   You can read a review here:
Among the Pilgrims: Journeys to Santiago de Compostela  Mary Victoria Wallis’s Among the Pilgrims is the story of her two pilgrimages – one by bicycle in 1997 and one on foot in 1998
http://www.tstsy.com/2010/09/10/among-the-pilgrims-journeys-to-santiago-de-compostela/

My favourite modern pilgrim's book?

Besides Joyce Rupp's 'warts 'n all' account of her camino, it has to be:

To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago de Compostela by Kevin A. Codd (a catholic priest).

"His writing reminds one of Ernest Hemingway’s powerful descriptions of the magnificent scenery of Spain" said one reviewer.

Father Kevin found a lot lacking in his regard for other people and pondered on the failure of the church to inspire young people who were obviously searching for something in their lives.

My Favourite cultural book is by far The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago - by David M Gitlitz & Linda K Davidson. It is the camino Bible that discusses the history, tradition, folk lore, saint's lives, art, architecture, geology and fauna and flora of the camino Frances from Somport and from Roncesvalles.

The couple walked to Santiago in 1974, 1979, 1987 and 1993 accompanying groups of students on academic, medieval study programs. In 1974 they did not meet even one other pilgrim on the road to Compostela. In 1979 the met an elderly Frenchman who was fulfilling a vow made in the Second World War. By 1985/86 numbers had swelled and 2491 pilgrims received the Compostela certificate. 

David's imagination had been fired by Walter Starkie's vivid accounts of his pilgrimage experiences from the 1930's to the 1950's. And this leads me to my favourite 'classic' camino book.

The Road to Santiago by Walter Starkie is part travel, part history, his knowledge of the road, the people and their history is profound.

I was lucky to find this first English edition (with dust jacket) in a charity shop for R10 (about $1)

 

My favourite guide books have to be those sold by the Confraternity of St James in the UK. Small, lightweight, no frills, no photographs or maps, annually up-dated they have a guide book for almost every route through France and Spain.

I couldn’t list all of the many thousands books available - especially the other languages - but here is a short list of English books - pilgrim stories, cultural books, fiction, guide books etc - to get you started on your reading. (They are listed in publishing date order.)

Enjoy!

Camino Frances
17th C: A Journey to the West - Domenico Laffi: The Diary of a Seventeenth-Century Pilgrim from Bologna to Santiago De Compostela by Domenico Laffi and James A. Hall (1998)

The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom: Paulo Coelho (1987)

Spanish Pilgrimage - A Canter to St James - Robin Hanbury-Tenison (He, his wife and 4 year old son travelled the route on horses (1991.)

Off the Road: A Modern-Day Walk down the Pilgrim’s Route into Spain. Hitt, Jack (1994)

Road of Stars to Santiago: Stanton, Edward (1994).

El Camino: Walking to Santiago de Compostela by Lee Hoinacki (1996)

Foot by Foot to Santiago de Compostela - Judy Foot. (1997).

On Pilgrimage. - Lash, Jennifer (1998)

On Foot to the End of the World (Armchair Traveller) Hardcover by Rene Freund (1999)

The Camino : a journey of the spirit by Shirley MacLaine (2000)

On the Road to Santiago: Tuggle, Bob (2000)

One Million Footsteps Across Spain, Walking El Camino De Santiago: Jr. L. Carroll Yingling (2000)

Roads to Santiago: Nooteboom, Cees (2000)

Diary of a Pilgrim - Emma Poë. (2000).

Pilgrim's Road: A Journey to Santiago De Compostela by bike: Bettina Selby (2000)

Following the Milky Way: A Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Aviva, Elyn (2001)

My Father, My Daughter: Pilgrims on the Road to Santiago: Schell, Donald, & Maria Schell (2001)

A Pilgrim's Journal: Walking El Camino de Santiago: Sophronia Camp and Thyra Heder (2002)

Peregrina: A Woman’s Journey on the Camino: Melville, Marilyn (2002)

Road to Santiago. National Geographic: Harrison, Kathryn (2003)

Buen Camino: Memories of the Road to Compostela: Norris, Patricia (2003)

Following the Milky Way: A Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago: Elyn Aviva (2003)

Walking For Wildlife: El Camino To Santiago De Compostela: Jean Ann Buck (2004)

My Camino. Kenney, Sue (2004)

The Journey: A Guide For The Modern Pilgrim. Scaperlanda, Maria Ruiz and Michael (2004)

Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela: Rudolph, Conrad (2004)

Spanish steps: one man and his ass on the pilgrim way to Santiago: Tim Moore, (2004)

Santiago de Compostela: Journal of Our Camino by Roger Rhoades and Nancy Rhoades (2005)

Horseshoes and Holy Water: on the hoof from Canterbury to Santiago de Compostela:Mefo Phillips, (2005)

Walk in a Relaxed Manner - Life Lessons from the Camino: Joyce Rupp (2005)

Dreaming Santiago : Bas Boorsma (2005)

Reflections on Spain's St. James and His Way: Robert Hodum (2005)

My Camino: a personal pilgrimage: Michael G. Moon. (2005)

Pray for Me in Santiago: Theresa Burkhardt Felder (2005)

Walking Home on the Camino de Santiago: Linda, L. Lasswell (2005)

I'm Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago: Kerkeling, Hape (2006)

Fumbling: Egan, Kerry (2006).

Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago: Alcorn, Susan (2006)

Riding the Milky Way: Gallard, Babette (2006)

Among the Pilgrims: Journeys to Santiago de Compostela. Wallis, Mary Victoria (2006)

Among the Pilgrims: Journeys to Santiago de Compostela by Mary Victoria Wallis (2006)

The Way Is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago: Boers, Arthur Paul (2007)

The Way of A Thousand Arrows. Drane, Jonathan (2007)

Walking The Camino In An Age Of Anxiety: The Search For The Medieval Pilgrim by John H. Pratt ( 2007)

Camino Walk: Marie-Laure Valandro (2007)

Confessions of a Pilgrim. Kenney, Sue (2007)

Ultreia! Onward!: Progress of the Pilgrim by Robert L. France and Matthew Fox (2007)

All The Good Pilgrims: Tales Of The Camino De Santiago : Robert Ward (2007)

Walking The Camino in an Age of Anxiety: The Search for the Medieval Pilgrim. Pratt, John H. (2007)

To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago de Compostela: Codd, Kevin A. (2008)

Forever a Pilgrim: Ermanno Aiello (2008)  South African author

Once is Not Enough: Tales from the Camino De Santiago by Barbara Cameron (2008)

Walking in Grace : Atman (2008)

A Journey of Days: Relearning Life’s Lessons on the Camino de Santiago: Thatcher, Guy (2008)

Camino Footsteps: Reflections on a Journey to Santiago de Compostela: Malcolm Wells and Kim Wells (2008)

Walking Through Cancer: A Pilgrimage of Gratitude on the Way of St. James: Elyn Aviva and Kate López (2009)

Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus by Dave Pivonka (Paperback - May 2009)

The Way of Stars and Stones: Thoughts on a Pilgrimage by Wilna Wilkinson (2009) South African author who walked in the dead of winter.  (This should be a goodie for those wanting to read about a winter pilgrimage!)

Footpath to the End of the Earth –  Abie Martin: Walking the Camino Frances…(2009)

"El Camino - a modern day pilgrimage"  (2009)
Impresssions from an ancient trail in Northern Spain / 99 images / 40 pages:  The author captures the spirit of the Camino in 99 images, from beautiful landscapes to intense portraits of locals and pilgrims alike.
By Thomas Hartmann

October 2012
Encounters on the Camino de Santiago - Natural, Human, and Divine
By William Beahen A retired Canadian policeman walks the Camino Frances.

Aragones Route/Finisterre/Camino Ingles

Pilgrimage Trails - a series:  Three Short Hikes on el Camino  - Sylvia Nilsen


VDLP

A Pilgrim's Journal II: Walking la Vía de la Plata. Camp, Sophronia (2008)

A Walk from Gibraltar to la Coruña - Christabel Watson, 2005,
Illustrated account of walk across Spain, including the Via de la Plata from Seville to Santiago de Compostela

Walking the Camino: A Modern Pilgrimage to Santiago by Tony Kevin (2009)


Via Turonensis (from Paris)

Walking to Santiago - Mary E Wilkie Paris to Santiago in 1998.
La Via Turonensis from Paris to Spain - Sylvia Nilsen (2012)

Via Vezelay

Pilgrim Snail - Ben Nimmo (Canterbury - Santiago with his trombone!)

Le Puy

A Painting Pilgrim: a journey to Santiago de Compostela - Mark Hoare. 2003. Diary of a walk from le Puy to Santiago, generously illustrated with the author's own watercolours

The Road to Santiago: a Journey to Santiago de Compostela - Knud Helge Robberstad. 1996. A beautifully illustrated account of a walk from le Puy to Santiago, made in 1995 by two photographer pilgrims, one Norwegian, the other English

Portugues

North to Santiago de Compostela via Fatima: Lagos to Santiago: John Merrill (2004)


Cultural/Historical/Novels

This is my Bible of the camino! The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago - A cultural handbook that discusses the history, tradition, folk lore, art, architecture, fauna and flora of the camino Frances. David M Gitlitz & Linda K Davidson

The Archaeology of Pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago De Compostela: A Landscape Perspective (British Archaeological Reports International Series) by Julie Candy (2009)

Plantas Y Remedios Naturales. Camino Santiago (Spanish Edition) by Txumari Alfaro (2008)

The Pilgrimage to Compostela in the Middle Ages: A Book of Essays by Linda Davidson (2000)

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela Ultimate Handbook. by Jack de Groot, Ph.D., and Stephanie K. Winter, and MD. (2009)

Santiago De Compostela in the Age of Great Pilgrimages (The Centers of civilization series) by Marilyn Stokstad (1979)

Saint James's Catapult: The Life and Times of Diego Gelmirez of Santiago De Compostela by R. A. Fletcher (1984)

The Road to Santiago: pilgrims of St James Walter Starkie: (1957)

The pilgrimage to Santiago - Edwin Mullins.(1974)

The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago – David M Gitlitz & Linda Davidson (2000)

Pilgrim Stories: on and off the road to Santiago : Nancy Louise Frey (1998).

The Pilgrim Guide to Santiago de Compostela - Annie Shaver-Crandell and Paula Gerson (English translation from the original Latin of the 12th C "Pilgrim Guide" & 730 entries listing all important towns, monuments and buildings (even those now lost) encountered by the 12th C pilgrim.)

Jacobean Pilgrims from England to St James of Compostela - Constance Mary Storrs (1964 thesis on English pilgrims to Santiago 12thC to late 15th C.)
The Pilgrimage to Santiago - Edwin Mullins (An analysis of the art, architecture, legends and history of the route from Paris to Santiago.)


The Way of Saint James, Vol. I by Georgiana Goddard King978-0-9790909-2-9 pp. 484 $34.95
The Way of Saint James, Vol. II by Georgiana Goddard King978-0-9790909-3-6 pp. 532 $38.95
The Way of Saint James, Vol. III by Georgiana Goddard King978-0-9790909-4-3 pp. 700+ $45.95


Fiction/Handbooks
The Cockleshell Pilgrim: a medieval journey to Compostela - Katherine Lack. SPCK, London, 2003.

Roads to Santiago: a Spiritual Companion - 25 short reflections and poems, readings and prayers on the nature of pilgrimage, by 25 members of the Confraternity of Saint James.

Ultreia! Onward! - Progress of the Pilgrim: a book of daily readings for the pilgrim, ed by Robert France. Foreward by Matthew Fox.

Pilgrimage to Heresy: Don't Believe Everything They Tell You by Tracy Saunders (Paperback - Dec 11, 2007)

What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim: A Midlife Misadventure on Spain's Camino de Santiago de Compostela [Jane Christmas (2007)
Knight of the Temple: Stuart J. Dimmock (2006)

Death of a Pilgrim by David Dickinson (Hardcover - Feb 1, 2009)



Guides:

There are excellent guide books in languages other than English, such as the Maim Miam Dodo guides to France and the Camino Frances, but I am only listing the English Guides here.

http://www.csj.org.uk/ - Bookshop for guides to the routes in France and Spain.

Cicerone Press guides by Alison Raju who is the author of four pilgrim guides for walkers published by Cicerone Press:

Way of St James: Le Puy to the Pyrenees (2nd edition 2003),

Way of St. James: Pyrenees-Santiago-Finisterre (3rd edition 2003),

Vía de la Plata: Seville/Granada-Santiago (2nd edition 2005)

Pilgrim Road to Nidaros (Oslo-Trondheim, 2001).

A Practical Guide for Pilgrims - Millán Bravo Lozano:

Walking in Spain - Lonely Planet Guide.

The Roads to Santiago: the medieval pilgrim routes through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela - Frances Lincoln Ltd, (2008)

A Traveler's Highway to Heaven: Exploring the History and Culture of Northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago (History on the Hoof): William J. Bonville (2007)

http://www.blogger.com/www.%20Caminoguides.com John Brierley’s Guides - Camino Frances, Portugues and Finisterre

The Village to Village Guide to The Camino Santiago (The Pilgrimage of St James)
by Jaffa Raza

Pila Pala Press: http://www.pilipalapress.com/ Bethan Davis and Ben Cole guides - Camino Frances, Via de la Plata

http://www.rother.de/titpage/4835.php Rother guides Camino de Santiago (Includes Aragones Route)

e-book:  http://sites.google.com/site/2010caminodesantiagoguide/  Guide on the Camino Frances

Camino by Car:   Los Caminos de Santiago en coche/ The Way to Santiago in Car


Books for children

I couldn't find much in English. Perhaps this is your chance to publish a book on the camino - for children!

El Camino de Santiago: Rites of Passage. Trafford Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-1412056380. Chimenti, Wayne (2006) The Chimenti family's travels on a 500-mile walking pilgrimage. It started as Nahja, their 12-year old daughter's "rite of passage". It turned out to be a test for everyone.

Santiago de CompostelaISBN/EAN - 9788424105839 (English)9788424105594(Spanish)Author - Alonso, Juan RamónAge- 2-5 years

Pepe Mouse and his friends in Santiago de Compostela.ISBN/EAN - 9788424105952 (English)9788424105716(Spanish)Author - Alonso, Juan RamónDescription: Activitiy Book with Stickers
Childrens Books

Go to http://www.casadellibro.com/ Enter this in the search box: PEPERRATON Y SUS AMIGOS EN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELAIf you want to see the entire series, just enter PEPERRATON Y SUS AMIGOSPeperraton in every town in Spain, as well as both English and Spanish will appear.

Over 12 Year-olds

The Ramsay Scallop Shell by Frances Temple set in 1299 (was a set book in schools)