Don Quixote was the subject of the ‘Windmills of the Mind’ read-along, hosted by Stu. I wimped out of the read-along, falling into an unplanned hiatus of some few weeks duration, followed by a determined and intemperate onslaught which saw the last several hundred pages overcome in a mere couple of days. From this it might be deduced that Don Quixote was no pleasure to read, but (from the slightly self-satisfied position of one who has emerged at the far end more or less unscathed) I would insist that DQ is a wonderful and enjoyable read and well worth the effort.
Tag Archives: miguel de cervantes
Don Quixote – Week 6
“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”
Part 2 of Don Quixote has much to recommend it, and I am delighted to have passed the halfway mark, but this week I have a theory. It’s not much of a theory, but it’s my theory and I’m sticking to it, Martín de Riquer notwithstanding!
Here is the contentious line:
‘ “We have come to the church, Sancho.” ‘
The footnote tells me that this line has often been translated as DQ and Sancho having ‘run into’ the church, ie come into conflict with the institution. But Cervantes scholar, Martín de Riquer, states that this is overinterpretation.
It may well be over interpretation, but I have been interested throughout by the contrast with the lying and misleading books of chivalry (which often end up in flames; book burning apparently quite acceptable in this era!) whereas the tenets of the Catholic faith are quoted as gospel truth, so to speak, by, amongst others, the otherwise ignorant and illiterate Sancho. I would like to think that Cervantes was having a sly dig at religion, as all the characters adhere slavishly to catholic teachings without question. On the other hand my scant historical background suggests to me that the Spanish Inquisition was proceeding with more or less enthusiasm during this period of history, and to attempt to poke fun at Catholicism would have been the act of a brave (but reckless) man indeed.
Don Quixote – Week 5
“Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat”
Goats figure prominently throughout Don Quixote, frequently used as the currency of stories and morals. Sancho tells a story whereby a goatherd is ferrying his flock of some several hundred goats across a river. The condition of the story telling is that DQ must keep count of the goats thus conveyed. This DQ is unable to do, with the result that he never hears the end of the tale. On a subsequent occasion a young man threatens that under the circumstance of any interruption of his narrative he will cease to speak, and DQ is reminded of the Sancho experience: but is unable to resist an interjection.
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Don Quixote – Week 4
Surprisingly Sober Sanity
This week introduced the first two interpolated novels. Possibly (hopefully?) the only interpolated novels. I was quite surprised to learn that these were considered the first, because many characters, and non-characters, have, to date, been introduced via substantial back stories.
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Don Quixote – Week 3
On Feigned Madness
Firstly, it’s not feigned. Ulysses and DQ in combination is confusing the hell out of me…
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Don Quixote – Week 2
Method in Madness
As Don Quixote continues to career about Spain, in pursuit of adventure, both he and Sancho Panza are exploring the limits of chivalric madness and what it may and may not accomplish.
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Don Quixote – Week 1
Something Miss-?
Don Quixote starts with a fabulous prologue, in which the author mournfully asserts his incompetence in the field of the chivalric literature of the 1500s. This is most comforting because, as it happens, I also feel that lack.
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Windmills for The Mind
Just realised that I have recently, and bizarrely, flagged a read-along in which I may not participate, whilst failing to trumpet one which I do have in mind: the upcoming Don Quixote group read, Windmills for the Mind, hosted by Stu of Winstonsdad’ s Blog. The reading start date is 19th July, first discussion on the 26th. Thanks to Stu for clarifying that point comprehensively. How many times have I started reading only to discover that I am already a week behind? (This is a rhetorical question: I don’t really want to consider how many times I have repeatedly fallen into the same misapprehension!)
So I need to order a copy. The definitive edition for this read is the new translation by Edith Grossman. I am very excited by this one, and not solely because it comes with this fabulous illustration, (above, left), courtesy of Picasso.
