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Handbook to the Legacy & Odyssey of Don QuiXote: Everything the armchair academic needs to know about the greatest novel ever written
For the culturally curious or the time-tied student this unique handbook covers all the essential triumphs and tribulations not only of the celebrated author but also of the down-at-heel Don in what is considered by the literary great and good the greatest novel ever written. It holds the record for the most number of translations, relegating even the Bible to second best. It is considered the first modern novel and there are those that commit themselves to read it every year. So what is it this book contains in its ageing pages that makes it so exceptional and has provoked such an earnest reaction for over four centuries? This unique handbook, therefore, is for those who wish to grapple with the greater picture of world literature and its universal meaning. If Don Quixote is on your 'Bucket List' but you cannot spare the time to cross it off by reading the whole tome, then this factual edifice is your short cut to artistic salvation. It is an illustrated publication that will save you trekking through Spain's badlands and provide you with a broad image of the man, the novel and its principal characters before delving into the wider philosophical message that it safeguards for all humanity. Despite this, if you are still keen to make the trip to Spain in person, then this volume ends with a personal tour of the captivating Quixote Route of La Mancha. By the time you come to turn the last page I am confident your reading will only urge you to pick up the original manuscript and release your imagination upon the barren plains of late medieval Spain. Once you find yourself confronted by Cervantes' superlatively famous first line, you will have been adeptly prepared before you venture off into the pages of Spain's peerless masterpiece and head for the windmills on the horizon of Old Castile.
190 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2013
3 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Mark Colenutt
18 books15 followersBorn in Plymouth, Devon I was educated at Blundell's School and then at St. Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, London, which was once Horace Walpole's beautiful residence. Upon completing my degree I took off to Malaysia and New Zealand with two friends before returning one last time to the UK capital before I boarded the plane that would eventually carry me to my adopted homeland of Spain.
After a year and a half in the Spanish capital I decided it was time to leave and seek colour and adventure in the Andalusian south. I settled in Seville, which had been a place that had fascinated me from a very young age and I was not disappointed. Eleven years later and it was time to move on again, this time returning to the north but still within Spain.
By this time I had now completed two books and was engaged in a third, imagining a fourth and wishfully thinking a fifth.
At present I live and work in Girona, which is a charming, laidback, green part of the peninsula, idyllically sandwiched between the Pyrenees, France, Barcelona and the Mediterranean.
Not surprisingly, I have produced a collection of books on Spain over the years in The Hispanophile Series. The series ranges from literary criticism in the form of my Handbook to the Legacy & Odyssey of Don Quixote, a provocative guide to Bullfighting 'Spanish Bull' to a city guide in 'Old Seville - the City of Eternal Youth' and even a book of photography and the first in the novel form of a paperback, hence the format: 'photoback', entitled 'A Vision of Seville'. Further details can be found at www.thehispanophileseries.wordpress.com
I have also written a non-fiction history title about the British Raj 'Holocaust in the Raj: A Concise History of the Great Indian Famine, 1876-78'.
Added to the above, I publish a series of YA mystery adventure novels, The Chester Bentely Mysteries, under the pen name MJ Colewood. The first book 'The Last Treasure of Ancient England' was published to coincide with the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. Two more books in the series have been completed an will soon be released. More can be found on the website: www.mjcolewood.com
After a year and a half in the Spanish capital I decided it was time to leave and seek colour and adventure in the Andalusian south. I settled in Seville, which had been a place that had fascinated me from a very young age and I was not disappointed. Eleven years later and it was time to move on again, this time returning to the north but still within Spain.
By this time I had now completed two books and was engaged in a third, imagining a fourth and wishfully thinking a fifth.
At present I live and work in Girona, which is a charming, laidback, green part of the peninsula, idyllically sandwiched between the Pyrenees, France, Barcelona and the Mediterranean.
Not surprisingly, I have produced a collection of books on Spain over the years in The Hispanophile Series. The series ranges from literary criticism in the form of my Handbook to the Legacy & Odyssey of Don Quixote, a provocative guide to Bullfighting 'Spanish Bull' to a city guide in 'Old Seville - the City of Eternal Youth' and even a book of photography and the first in the novel form of a paperback, hence the format: 'photoback', entitled 'A Vision of Seville'. Further details can be found at www.thehispanophileseries.wordpress.com
I have also written a non-fiction history title about the British Raj 'Holocaust in the Raj: A Concise History of the Great Indian Famine, 1876-78'.
Added to the above, I publish a series of YA mystery adventure novels, The Chester Bentely Mysteries, under the pen name MJ Colewood. The first book 'The Last Treasure of Ancient England' was published to coincide with the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. Two more books in the series have been completed an will soon be released. More can be found on the website: www.mjcolewood.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 25, 2013
This is a book written by me so here is the blurb from the back jacket:
Don Quixote is considered by the literally great and good to be the best novel ever written. It holds the record for the most translations, relegating even the Bible to second best. It is considered the first modern novel and there are those that commit themselves to read it every year. So what is it this book contains in its ageing pages that makes it so exceptional and has provoked such an earnest reaction
for over four centuries?
This unique handbook, therefore, is for the culturally curious, for those who wish to grapple with the greater picture of world literature and its universal meaning. If Don Quixote is on your ‘Bucket List’ but you cannot spare the time to cross it off by reading the whole tome,
then this factual edifice is your short cut to artistic salvation.
It is an illustrated publication that will save you trekking through Spain’s badlands and provide you with a broad image of the man, the novel and its principal characters before delving into the wider philosophical message that it safeguards for all humanity. Despite this, if you are still keen to make the trip to Spain in person, then this volume ends with a personal tour of the captivating Quixote Route of La Mancha.
By the time you come to turn the last page of this book your reading will only urge you to pick up the original manuscript and release your imagination upon the barren plains of late medieval Spain. Once you find yourself confronted by Cervantes’ superlatively famous first line, you will have been adeptly prepared before you venture off into
Cervantes’ masterpiece and head for the windmills
on the horizon of Old Castile.
Don Quixote is considered by the literally great and good to be the best novel ever written. It holds the record for the most translations, relegating even the Bible to second best. It is considered the first modern novel and there are those that commit themselves to read it every year. So what is it this book contains in its ageing pages that makes it so exceptional and has provoked such an earnest reaction
for over four centuries?
This unique handbook, therefore, is for the culturally curious, for those who wish to grapple with the greater picture of world literature and its universal meaning. If Don Quixote is on your ‘Bucket List’ but you cannot spare the time to cross it off by reading the whole tome,
then this factual edifice is your short cut to artistic salvation.
It is an illustrated publication that will save you trekking through Spain’s badlands and provide you with a broad image of the man, the novel and its principal characters before delving into the wider philosophical message that it safeguards for all humanity. Despite this, if you are still keen to make the trip to Spain in person, then this volume ends with a personal tour of the captivating Quixote Route of La Mancha.
By the time you come to turn the last page of this book your reading will only urge you to pick up the original manuscript and release your imagination upon the barren plains of late medieval Spain. Once you find yourself confronted by Cervantes’ superlatively famous first line, you will have been adeptly prepared before you venture off into
Cervantes’ masterpiece and head for the windmills
on the horizon of Old Castile.
August 8, 2013
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The book has a somewhat divided nature, which I admit, is signaled by the title. One half of the book is the "Legacy" section which I really enjoyed. I found myself reminded of the various scenes and characters of the novel, which I had read some years ago, as I read the summary. The summary is detailed enough for the casual reader or armchair academic, which, based again on the title, is the target audiences. The Author also does a great job speaking to the influence the novel had/has on English literature and language.
The other half of the book, the "Odyssey" section, is a travelogue of the author's trip in Spain following Quixote's wanderings. I skimmed through this section, not being interested in the cafes, soups and what-nots, of the adventure. Photos, as well as a map, would definitely have helped this part of the book.
The book has a somewhat divided nature, which I admit, is signaled by the title. One half of the book is the "Legacy" section which I really enjoyed. I found myself reminded of the various scenes and characters of the novel, which I had read some years ago, as I read the summary. The summary is detailed enough for the casual reader or armchair academic, which, based again on the title, is the target audiences. The Author also does a great job speaking to the influence the novel had/has on English literature and language.
The other half of the book, the "Odyssey" section, is a travelogue of the author's trip in Spain following Quixote's wanderings. I skimmed through this section, not being interested in the cafes, soups and what-nots, of the adventure. Photos, as well as a map, would definitely have helped this part of the book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews