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Don Quixote Among the Saracens

A Clash of Civilizations and Literary Genres

Frederick A de Armas author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of Toronto Press

Published:19th Mar '13

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Don Quixote Among the Saracens cover

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.

‘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 91:08:20

ISBN: 9781442616011

Dimensions: 230mm x 152mm x 17mm

Weight: 360g

256 pages