Chekhov's Mistress
Quixote Bibliographic Article
Digital Granma International, a Cuban news outlet, features an article called “The most read novel of all times Valuable editions stored in the Cuban National Library,” which draws on information from the José Martí National Library (in Spanish).
Don Quixote, as it is colloquially known, a literary monument that has become a Heritage of Humanity, was printed in Spanish on more than 30 occasions in the 17th century, 40 in the 18th, 200 in the 19th, and at a rate of three times per year in the 20th century. Given the 400th anniversary of that work, counting recent editions is impossible.
Cervantes’ greatest work was published for the first time in 1605 (printed in the Diario de la Marina), and would not see the light again in relation to the island’s publishing houses until 1960 when, at Alejo Carpentier’s request, it was edited by the Imprenta Nacional. It was reprinted in 1972 (by the Cuban Book Institute), in 1974 and 1980 (Arte y Literatura Publishers) and in 1985 (Pueblo y Educación Publishers).
In its collection of rare and valuable books the National Library itself treasures around 20 volumes published between 1605 and 1888. According to the website information the 1605 edition was printed in Valencia, and the volume in question has Page 192 wrongly numbered. The library has a second edition of Don Quixote de la Mancha. El ingenioso cavallero, published in 1616. It likewise guards a 1869 copy published in Paris with etchings by Gustav Doré; a facsimile 1887 copy printed in Barcelona; and another from 1957, illustrated by Salvador Dalí.
It should be noted that one year after the publication of the adventures of El ingenioso hidalgo an edition was printed in Lisbon and then saw an early translation into English in the hands of Thomas Shelton, London, 1612, while the French version came out in 1614 in Paris, thanks to César Oudin, and the Italian in Venice, 1622, by Lorenzo Franciosini of Castelfiorentino.
Still in the 17th century, the novel was translated into German and Dutch; in the 18th, into Danish, Polish and Russian; and in later centuries, into the remainder of languages in use.
Lastly, after talking about Quixote’s popularity and humanity, the author of the article poses the question:
Could it not be that many Quixotes, Sanchos and windmills have existed and still exist in the world.
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About this Post
- Posted by: Bud Parr
- Date: April 20, 2005
- Filed Under:
Wise Men Fish Here: Literature
- Comments:0
- Links to this Post: Technorati
