The Spanish Gardener is a 1950 novel by A. J. Cronin which tells the story of an American consul, Harrington Brande, who is posted to San Jorge on the Costa Brava, Spain with his young son Nicholas.

A restrained, precise man, Brande has an elevated sense of his own importance, believing his qualities have been overlooked in a series of postings around Europe which have failed to result in promotion.

Nicholas takes an instinctive dislike to Garcia, fearing his dead fish eyes and his tendency to appear unannounced, but Brande sees the man's obsequious servility as recognition of his own superior qualities.

José's amiable and ingenuous nature, despite his poverty and the responsibility of providing for his family members, soon attract Nicholas's curiosity and the pair start a friendship.

Brande then receives a letter summoning him to Madrid and informing him that his predecessor at San Jorge, who was promoted to First Consul, has suffered a stroke.

When Nicholas returns, Garcia and Magdalena deny his version of events, and he is confined to his room where Professor Halevy "examines" him, intent upon reading something perverse into his relationship with José.

Information on 'The Spanish Gardener' from the fly leaf of 'Beyond This Place' (Published 1953 Australia and NZ): Dr Cronin has portrayed a man at the mercy of his own vanity.

This man's son is the victim of his doting parent until the Spanish gardener shows the boy the way to a freer, healthier, happier life.