Spanish literature

Today we will talk about a classical of the Spanish literature, Don Quixote, fully titled ¨The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha¨, “El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha” in Spanish. This novel was written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It is considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever published and the best literary work every written. It is a book that we definitely recommend. It follows the adventures of a hidalgo –a hidalgo was a member of the Spanish nobility without title, hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes but who did not necessarily own real property– Alfonso Quijano, and Sancho Panza as his squire.

The author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra(1547-1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright, his influence on the Spanish language has been so great that the Spanish language is often called “la lengua de Cervantes” (“The language of Cervantes”). The the 23 of April, 1616 is recorded in may references as the date of the death of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. William Shakespeare also died on the 23rd of April, 1616, to honor this, UNESCO stablished the 23rd of April as the International Day of the Book, El Día Internacional del Libro.

Book: Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfeFo6Rgquw[/youtube]

Today we will suggest to read “La Celestina”.

This book is considered to be one of the greatest book of the Spanish literature. The Author Fernando de Rojas wrote this book when he still was a student. Later, when he graduated, he practised law and is not known to have written any further literary works.

¨La Celestina¨is considered to be one of the greatest works of Spanish literature, and traditionally marks the end of medieval literature and the beginning of the literary renaissance in Spain. Although usually considered a novel, it is written as a continuous concatenation of dialogues leading to interpretations of the work as a play, and has frequently been staged as such. The story tells of Calisto, who falls in love with Melibea, who at first seems to be a flawless courtly love, but as the drama advances, Calisto’s true intentions turn out to be not so pure. Following the machinations of Celestina, their love has a tragic end after an accident in which Calisto dies in a fall. On seeing this, Melibea subsequently decides to jump from a tower to her death. The name ¨Celestina¨ has become synonymous with procuress—especially an old woman—dedicated to promoting the illegal engagement of a couple.

[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqjRkRWUzp8[/youtube]

Spanish Literature: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Spanish Literature: La Celestina

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