Don Quixote Among the Saracens: A Clash of Civilizations and Literary Genres
© 2011
The fictional Don Quixote was constantly defeated in his knightly adventures. In writing Quixote's story, however, Miguel Cervantes succeeded in a different kind of quest — the creation of a modern novel that ‘conquers’ and assimilates countless literary genres. Don Quixote among the Saracens considers how Cervantes's work reflects the clash of civilizations and anxieties towards cultural pluralism that permeated Golden Age Spain.
Frederick A. de Armas unravels an essential mystery of one of world literature's best known figures: why Quixote sets out to revive knight errantry, and why he comes to feel at home only among the Moorish ‘Saracens,’ a people whom Quixote feared at the beginning of the novel. De Armas also reveals Quixote's inner conflicts as both a Christian who vows to battle the infidel, but also a secret Saracen sympathizer. While delving into genre theory, Don Quixote among the Saracens adds a new dimension to our understandings of Spain's multicultural history.
Product Details
- World Rights
- Page Count: 256 pages
- Dimensions: 6.0in x 0.7in x 9.1in
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Reviews
‘Cervantes is a master at throwing curves; de Armas is a master at catching new ironies in a literary classic. The combination is extraordinarily rich and winning. Highly recommended.’
E.H. Freidman
Choice Magazine vol 49:11:2012‘De Armas meticulously probes into the visionary and labyrinthine mind of Don Quixote… De Armas has written an original book, a topical book, a moral book.’
Diana de Armas
Iberoamericana vol 12:48:2012‘De Armas turns in his usual solid performance as he presents original ideas about the Cervantes masterpiece and the author’s and novel’s background.’
L.R.N. Ashley
Bibliothèque d'humanisme et Renaissance vol 74:03:2012‘De Armas’ greatest strength lies in his philological eclecticism, which shines a powerful microscope on Cervantes’ text, producing unforgettable close readings of many passages that have never been adequately explained.’
William Childers
Bulletin of Spanish Studies, vol 91:08:2014 -
Author Information
Frederick A. de Armas is the Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Service Professor in the Humanities, Spanish Literature, and Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago. -
Table of contents
Preface
I. Pillars of Genre/Ghosts of Empire: An Introduction
II. A Pythagorean Parody of Chivalry
III. Questioning Quaternities
IV. An Arab's Audacious Pastoral
V. Magics of the Defeated
VI. Clues to a Narrative
VII. Greek Interlace / Italian Interweaving
VIII. Palinurus and the Pleiades
IX. Don Quixote among the Saracens
X. Thymos and its Chariot
Works Cited
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Subjects and Courses
