October 14, 2020 In the 1885 edition of "Don Quixote" there is this, in the introduction (penned presumably by Ormsby): But it would be idle to deny that the ingredient which, more than its humour, or its wisdom, or the fertility of invention or knowledge of human nature it displays, has insured its success with … Continue reading Cervantes’ pulp fiction
October 14, 2020 As is well-known, after Cervantes published what is known today as Volume 1 of "Don Quixote," a man writing under the pen-name of Avellaneda de Tordesillas wrote his own sequel to Cervantes' novel, upon which Cervantes promptly finished his own sequel, which today is known as Volume 2 of "Don Quixote." Cervantes … Continue reading Cervantes had a troll
October 13, 2020 Don Quijote calls St. Paul “a knight errant in life, and a barefoot saint in death” (Vol. II, ch. 58), which shows again that his idea of knight errantry is about virtue, service, and faith. Near the end of the novel Don Quijote shows himself to be a linguist, with his explanation … Continue reading Finishing Don Quixote
October 11, 2020 Our knight and squire are clearly “in a book.” In Vol. II, ch. 33, Sancho says of an adventure from near the start of Vol. II: “it isn’t in the book yet”. My kids love to exclaim, “I am Don Quijote,” while doing a pretend-attack, mimicking the title character from “The Man … Continue reading 109 chapters into Don Quixote
October 7, 2020 Don Quijote has taken up many roles now that are actually knightly in their way. During the Basilio story he becomes something of a marriage-counselor at arms. He stops an incipient brawl at the wedding, which probably counts as the single best thing he’s done. He tries to be a peacemaker in … Continue reading 82 chapters into Don Quixote
October 6, 2020 The episode with the Knight of the Mirrors stands up there with the best stories of Vol. I. And I did not see the reveal coming at all! But it had been foreshadowed. Then I wondered, if Samson Carrasco planned out this encounter with our priest back in La Mancha, then what … Continue reading 70 chapters into Don Quixote
October 4, 2020 My son thinks I’m reading “Donkey Hotee”. The book has never been funnier than in the first 7 chapters of Vol. II. As always, it’s the dialogue that gets me the most, especially Sancho’s talks with his wife and with Don Quijote. Cervantes is getting more creative and trying new things, and … Continue reading 62 chapters into Don Quixote
October 2, 2020 I've finished Volume 1. I’m going to miss all the side-characters. Even before they split off from our core group, saying goodbye to our knight, squire, priest and barber, it was clear that their stories were now more-or-less resolved and that the rest of Vol. I would probably just take the core … Continue reading Halfway through Don Quixote
October 1, 2020 Dorotea’s unspooling of her story – while we, along with the anguished Cardenio, guess who she might be – is the most gripping thing in the book yet. (I read this rather than watch the first Trump/Biden debate, and I’m so glad.) Her speech when Fernando enters her room is stirring (“I … Continue reading 41 chapters into Don Quixote
September 29, 2020 In chs. 26 and 27 there are intimations that to go mad for your lady is actually the point. A possible motivation for our knight’s decision to take up this profession. There are clear signs that, at least in the literature of chivalry, this is one way in which knights are distinguished. … Continue reading 36 chapters into Don Quixote
