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Included in this collection are "The Little Gypsy Girl," "Rinconete and Cortadillo," "The Glass Graduate," "The Jealous Extremaduran," "The Deceitful Marriage," and "The Dog’s Colloquy."
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1613
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About the author
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
4,805 books3,540 followersMiguel de Cervantes y Cortinas, later Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His novel Don Quixote is often considered his magnum opus, as well as the first modern novel.
It is assumed that Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares. His father was Rodrigo de Cervantes, a surgeon of cordoban descent. Little is known of his mother Leonor de Cortinas, except that she was a native of Arganda del Rey.
In 1569, Cervantes moved to Italy, where he served as a valet to Giulio Acquaviva, a wealthy priest who was elevated to cardinal the next year. By then, Cervantes had enlisted as a soldier in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment and continued his military life until 1575, when he was captured by Algerian corsairs. He was then released on ransom from his captors by his parents and the Trinitarians, a Catholic religious order.
He subsequently returned to his family in Madrid.
In Esquivias (Province of Toledo), on 12 December 1584, he married the much younger Catalina de Salazar y Palacios (Toledo, Esquivias –, 31 October 1626), daughter of Fernando de Salazar y Vozmediano and Catalina de Palacios. Her uncle Alonso de Quesada y Salazar is said to have inspired the character of Don Quixote. During the next 20 years Cervantes led a nomadic existence, working as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada and as a tax collector. He suffered a bankruptcy and was imprisoned at least twice (1597 and 1602) for irregularities in his accounts. Between 1596 and 1600, he lived primarily in Seville. In 1606, Cervantes settled in Madrid, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616.
-Copied from Wikipedia
It is assumed that Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares. His father was Rodrigo de Cervantes, a surgeon of cordoban descent. Little is known of his mother Leonor de Cortinas, except that she was a native of Arganda del Rey.
In 1569, Cervantes moved to Italy, where he served as a valet to Giulio Acquaviva, a wealthy priest who was elevated to cardinal the next year. By then, Cervantes had enlisted as a soldier in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment and continued his military life until 1575, when he was captured by Algerian corsairs. He was then released on ransom from his captors by his parents and the Trinitarians, a Catholic religious order.
He subsequently returned to his family in Madrid.
In Esquivias (Province of Toledo), on 12 December 1584, he married the much younger Catalina de Salazar y Palacios (Toledo, Esquivias –, 31 October 1626), daughter of Fernando de Salazar y Vozmediano and Catalina de Palacios. Her uncle Alonso de Quesada y Salazar is said to have inspired the character of Don Quixote. During the next 20 years Cervantes led a nomadic existence, working as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada and as a tax collector. He suffered a bankruptcy and was imprisoned at least twice (1597 and 1602) for irregularities in his accounts. Between 1596 and 1600, he lived primarily in Seville. In 1606, Cervantes settled in Madrid, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
June 7, 2018
Acknowledgements
Introduction & Suggestions for Further Reading
--The Little Gipsy Girl
--Rinconete and Cortadillo
--The Glass Graduate
--The Jealous Extremaduran
--The Deceitful Marriage
--The Dogs' Colloquy
Introduction & Suggestions for Further Reading
--The Little Gipsy Girl
--Rinconete and Cortadillo
--The Glass Graduate
--The Jealous Extremaduran
--The Deceitful Marriage
--The Dogs' Colloquy
April 26, 2019
Exemplary Stories is an excellent collection of novellas written by a legendary author Cervantes. Many novellas follow adventures of nobleman, often featuring a Cinderella moment. Similar to his famous novel, these prose works often feature brilliant social satire, excellent syntax, wonderful humour and word play. For today standard they might seem a bit old-fashioned to a modern reader, but at the time of the publications some of them were absolutely revolutionary. Some of these novellas are more idolized and fantastical (resembling fairy-tales and romantic stories), while others are more realistic, but all of them show the writer's skill. Even in more fantastic novellas, you can feel the writer's wit and subtle irony. Excellent writing!
Cervantes was a genius, but we all not that, right? Anything written by him is gold. Discovering a vintage edition of this book in my home made my day. Reading it, made my week. Consulting the internet, I realized that the vintage edition I have doesn't contain all the novellas, but since they are available online, I won't have issues finding the remaining ones. I think some of them already appeared in his novel, so maybe that is why they were not included in this edition of mine? I'll have to have a look online and make sure I didn't miss any prose work of his.
Cervantes was a genius, but we all not that, right? Anything written by him is gold. Discovering a vintage edition of this book in my home made my day. Reading it, made my week. Consulting the internet, I realized that the vintage edition I have doesn't contain all the novellas, but since they are available online, I won't have issues finding the remaining ones. I think some of them already appeared in his novel, so maybe that is why they were not included in this edition of mine? I'll have to have a look online and make sure I didn't miss any prose work of his.
December 15, 2017
How disgraceful is it that the only reason I can come up with to actually learn Spanish is to be able to read one writer's oeuvre in full? I refer to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, of course, author of my favorite book of all time, "Don Quixote". (Probably, and only if this were the gun test, in which I had to select only one at the risk of death. This is a secret. Do not tell anyone I said this. It is like choosing favorites among your children.)
Many of his lesser known works have not even been translated, and, furthermore, I know for a fact that all of his writing would be markedly better in its native Spanish; more authentic and different, at the very least. More so than other authors, since his writing style has an inordinate number of puns, rhetoric, satire, and relies heavily on wordplay, all of which I would finally be able to recognize on my own without having to be told first by the translator.
Whereas this was undeniably not as spectacular as "Don Quixote", it was undeniably still an overall 5 star read.
It has taken me far too long to read something else by him.
From the introduction, something I liked that explains eloquently why I praise Cervantes as one of my favorite authors, despite the limited works I have been able to read from him:
Once I (mostly) accepted Lipson's exclusions, I was pleased with her (his? As a side note, I cannot find any information on Lesley Lipson's anywhere. This is his/her only work and the only one I can find online is a Leslie Lipson, professor in political science from Victoria University, whom I am pretty sure is somebody else) introduction. Advice for anyone that has not yet read this great connection of stories from Cervantes? Read the introduction afterwards. I made the mistake of reading it first because, well, it is an introduction. But really it is an analysis; a well written one, but which requires giving away all the details. So after I found this out, I saved the rest of it for after I had finished reading the stories and was much more pleased. Most of what I personally have to say in comments regarding the stories Lipson covers. I actually suggest readers to read her critique right after the corresponding story, since she does go one story at a time.
Another recommendation. Do read the prologue by the author. Cervantes, like he did in "Don Quixote", is South ever hating, and quite challenging to the reader, openly inviting them to find his stories not to be Exemplary. The expected irony and wit, along with deliberateness vagueness and tangents make for a pleasurable three pages.
In general, all these stories centered around some core themes: concerns about preserving honor, avoiding a life of sin (religion in general plays heavily in almost all the stories), exploration of social class and the power of wealth, etcetera, with Cervante's signature magical realism, adventure writing, the occasional sonnet or poem, his humor and wit, and the placing identifiable, loveable characters in atypical settings and extraordinary circumstances.
**** Spoilers ****
Interestingly, a few of the most critically acclaimed stores in the collection are actually my least favorites. Here are the stories included in this collection of "Exemplary Stories" in order of my personal favorite to least favorite:
The Little Gypsy Girl: Well written, funny. Seems more classic Cervantes, with humor, wit, a little magical realism, and tells is an adventure. Unconventional characters in an atypical situation; the characters are loveable, though, and readers find themselves invested in their aspirations. Reading about gypsy life, it at least Cervante's interpretation of it, was great fun. I personally loved the spunky personality of the Little Gypsy, Preciosa; her straightforwardness, the love for literature, the stubbornness that Carcome live with the gypsies for two years to make sure he can and is sure, before she will agree to marry him. Thus, it was ever so redeeming to read the fairytale ending in which she discovers she is a princess (at least noble birth). Wikipedia says: The story of a 15 year old gypsy girl named Preciosa, who is said to be talented, extremely beautiful, and wise beyond her years. Accompanied by her adoptive grandmother & other members of her gypsy family group, Preciosa travels to Madrid, where she meets a charming nobleman, named Juan de Carcome. Juan proposes to Preciosa, only to be challenged to spend two years as a member of Preciosa’s gypsy family group, under the alias of Andres Caballero. During these adventurous two years, much is learned by the main characters and of the main characters, resulting in an unexpected happy ending. The main themes of the story include the making & breaking of stereotypes, female power & freedom, the importance of word, and the so-called truth behind the mystery of gypsy life.
Rinconete & Cortadillo: This was a great satirical look at the underground crime syndicate. The one portrayed here is run by an idiot and is modeled on a religious brotherhood; the members are sincerely convinced that their sins will be forgiven as long as they pay their respects to their Mothers and Marys. Riconete says as much to us in the end, laughing along with Cortadillo in regards to all the moral ignorance they have witnessed. The irony is obvious. The satire is on point. A hilarious read, with the right amount of subtlety. Cervantes ends the story vaguely by alluding to the idea that Riconete decided to stay, and that in his narrative of his subsequent adventures with Mondiopo and the "brotherhood" will serve as a warning to all. To my disappointment, this was never actually written. Cervantes would do that, play with his readers emotions purposefully.
The Jealous Old Man From Extremadura: A Very Old Man, Felipo Carrizales, returns rich beyond his needs to his hometown, falls in love and marries Leonara, a far younger girl (a teenager to his 68 years; Lolita?), and does everything he can to protect this. He finds a brand new house and custom builds in two doors, never letting anyone inside the inner door, besides some servants he hires. A turnstile is installed, with revolving partitions for things like necessities and food can to be passed through without hand contact. He also buys friends for her. Essentially locks her in this house, giving her everything she wants except her freedom. Not knowing anything else, she is relatively happy. Unfortunately, a younger man, Loaysa, manages to enter and seduce Leonora by means of a very intricate plan involving sleep potions, befriending the black slave, insincere promises of guitar playing lessons, seduction with beautiful music and festivities. In the last pages of the book, Carrizales finds his wife asleep in bed with Loaysa, and instead of blaming them he blames himself. Ashamed at the way he treated Leonora he quietly retreats and dies, but not before asking for forgiveness, apologizing, and ensuring that everyone, Leonora's parents included, are taken care of after he dies from his pained heart. Afterwards, Leonora decides not to marry Loaysa and instead joins a convent. Loaysa in turn escapes to the new world. Obviously liked the redemption aspect, although there should have been more character development in Carrizales, which was more of a side character in the background once he was married. Aside from that, though, it was another adventure read, with much humor and a little intrigue as Loyosa conscientiously makes his way into the highly guarded establishment and way of life. It was now for this that I liked this one than the ending, which I did not care for. A little overdramatic and Shakespearean.
The Glass Graduate: No real character development, pacing not right, anticlimactic. What I really liked about it was the creative concept Cervantes illustrates in which a man, Tomás, after studying law, is given a love potion and inadvertently poisoned by a shunned lover. After physically recovering, unfortunately, he is delusional, convinced that his whole body is composed entirely of glass. His unshakable belief, combined with Tomás' clever, memorable aphorisms in conversation with everyone he meets, make Tomás famous throughout Spain. There are many humorous things he says in response to anyone who asks, promises to answer all questions directed to him. Blunt, harsh, satirical, use of wordplay. When he eventually is cured, he returns to law, only to discover that no one can let him forget who he was and has no interest in anything new he had to say as a lucid man. If this story were only these last pages, and shorter, this probably would have been my favorite story. (The first 7 pages were nothing of any interest, telling about military travels and his small beginnings, the next 15 pages tell of after his delusion begins, the last 2 page explain the events after he is cured; like I said, the pacing.) Both one and five stars.
Dialogue of the Dogs: Written in dialogue form, the two speakers being dogs. It was actually quite an irritating read overall, the excessive religion, the constant interruption from Scipio to try to get Berganza not to gossip. They spent practically one quarter of the time philosophizing about what they should not talk about and being worried about running out of time before this gift of speech was taken away from them. Far more religious pontificating than I wanted. Plus, it was a rather vague ending; I was disappointed not to get to read about Scipio's life story. I was more interested in his adventures, literally traveling from master to master and therefore occupation to occupation, guard dog to sheepdog to pet to show dog, which I savored while I could, before being overshadowed, yet again, with the focus on religion and sin, philosophy and vice. The idea that they were once humans was intriguing, but at the end of the day we are encouraged to hesitate before believing any of it. Another both one and five stars story.
The Deceitful Marriage: Accompanies the next story (in the published chronological order), as the author of "Dialogue of the Dogs" tells, in this story, his story. Far shorter than the other stories in the collection, still a fun read. Short and simple. Essentially, it sucks when you are a con artist that is conned. You cannot really complain, but you really feel like you can. During his recovery from syphilis, lying on a hospital bed, he begins two listen in on two dogs talking next to him. Or maybe it is a lucid dream? He records what they say, the result being the next story.
The Illustrious Kitchen Maid: This one was a little dull for me. Funny at times, but that was about it. Long, with nothing very memorable. Wikipedia summarizes: It tells the story of two wealthy young men who fall in love with a kitchen maid in Toledo. The story contains mistaken identities, ironic comments and genre traits of the picaresque novel and pastoral romance.
The Power of Blood: I could not stand this because it condones rape. Here is the general plot: guy rapes girl, girl gives birth, guy's mother finds out the identity of girl's son (thus her grandson), arranges for her son the rapist to meet the rapee again, they fall in love, are married; fairytale wedding, supposedly. Despite the good writing, the proficient examination and play on class and power, there is no way I could ever truly like a story that grandson by making it a fairytale ending when the relationship started as a rape.
Many of his lesser known works have not even been translated, and, furthermore, I know for a fact that all of his writing would be markedly better in its native Spanish; more authentic and different, at the very least. More so than other authors, since his writing style has an inordinate number of puns, rhetoric, satire, and relies heavily on wordplay, all of which I would finally be able to recognize on my own without having to be told first by the translator.
Whereas this was undeniably not as spectacular as "Don Quixote", it was undeniably still an overall 5 star read.
It has taken me far too long to read something else by him.
From the introduction, something I liked that explains eloquently why I praise Cervantes as one of my favorite authors, despite the limited works I have been able to read from him:
"A basic literary precept of the day was a need to inspire a sense of wonderment in the reader, and Cervantes achieves this by displacing recognizable character types into unexpected contexts and frequently dismantling generic conventions to create new combinations with which to surprise and challenge the reader. This he transports a noble gentleman to a gypsy camp in one story, presents one of his heroines as the 'illustrious' kitchen maid. He creates an essential tension between the 'ideal' and the 'real', the 'literary' and the 'everyday', the plausible and the unlikely... He speaks of 'producing fantasy with perfect naturalness'; in his "Exemplary Stories" he is more concerned to surprise his readers and stretch their imaginations by persuading them to suspend their disbelief than to recreate a realistic picture of his society."I was quite upset to find out that translator Lesley Lipson left out four stories: "The Generous Suitor", "The English Spanish Girl", "The Two Damsels", & "The Lady Cornelia". Why? Supposedly, since "they reflect the more traditional format of love and adventure, they are stylistically and conceptually less adventurous than the rest... less representative of Cervantes as innovator". Talk about skewing the perception. Why not provide all the data and let the readers decide for themselves, Lesley? You are a translator, not decider of what readers get to read.
Once I (mostly) accepted Lipson's exclusions, I was pleased with her (his? As a side note, I cannot find any information on Lesley Lipson's anywhere. This is his/her only work and the only one I can find online is a Leslie Lipson, professor in political science from Victoria University, whom I am pretty sure is somebody else) introduction. Advice for anyone that has not yet read this great connection of stories from Cervantes? Read the introduction afterwards. I made the mistake of reading it first because, well, it is an introduction. But really it is an analysis; a well written one, but which requires giving away all the details. So after I found this out, I saved the rest of it for after I had finished reading the stories and was much more pleased. Most of what I personally have to say in comments regarding the stories Lipson covers. I actually suggest readers to read her critique right after the corresponding story, since she does go one story at a time.
Another recommendation. Do read the prologue by the author. Cervantes, like he did in "Don Quixote", is South ever hating, and quite challenging to the reader, openly inviting them to find his stories not to be Exemplary. The expected irony and wit, along with deliberateness vagueness and tangents make for a pleasurable three pages.
In general, all these stories centered around some core themes: concerns about preserving honor, avoiding a life of sin (religion in general plays heavily in almost all the stories), exploration of social class and the power of wealth, etcetera, with Cervante's signature magical realism, adventure writing, the occasional sonnet or poem, his humor and wit, and the placing identifiable, loveable characters in atypical settings and extraordinary circumstances.
**** Spoilers ****
Interestingly, a few of the most critically acclaimed stores in the collection are actually my least favorites. Here are the stories included in this collection of "Exemplary Stories" in order of my personal favorite to least favorite:
The Little Gypsy Girl: Well written, funny. Seems more classic Cervantes, with humor, wit, a little magical realism, and tells is an adventure. Unconventional characters in an atypical situation; the characters are loveable, though, and readers find themselves invested in their aspirations. Reading about gypsy life, it at least Cervante's interpretation of it, was great fun. I personally loved the spunky personality of the Little Gypsy, Preciosa; her straightforwardness, the love for literature, the stubbornness that Carcome live with the gypsies for two years to make sure he can and is sure, before she will agree to marry him. Thus, it was ever so redeeming to read the fairytale ending in which she discovers she is a princess (at least noble birth). Wikipedia says: The story of a 15 year old gypsy girl named Preciosa, who is said to be talented, extremely beautiful, and wise beyond her years. Accompanied by her adoptive grandmother & other members of her gypsy family group, Preciosa travels to Madrid, where she meets a charming nobleman, named Juan de Carcome. Juan proposes to Preciosa, only to be challenged to spend two years as a member of Preciosa’s gypsy family group, under the alias of Andres Caballero. During these adventurous two years, much is learned by the main characters and of the main characters, resulting in an unexpected happy ending. The main themes of the story include the making & breaking of stereotypes, female power & freedom, the importance of word, and the so-called truth behind the mystery of gypsy life.
Rinconete & Cortadillo: This was a great satirical look at the underground crime syndicate. The one portrayed here is run by an idiot and is modeled on a religious brotherhood; the members are sincerely convinced that their sins will be forgiven as long as they pay their respects to their Mothers and Marys. Riconete says as much to us in the end, laughing along with Cortadillo in regards to all the moral ignorance they have witnessed. The irony is obvious. The satire is on point. A hilarious read, with the right amount of subtlety. Cervantes ends the story vaguely by alluding to the idea that Riconete decided to stay, and that in his narrative of his subsequent adventures with Mondiopo and the "brotherhood" will serve as a warning to all. To my disappointment, this was never actually written. Cervantes would do that, play with his readers emotions purposefully.
The Jealous Old Man From Extremadura: A Very Old Man, Felipo Carrizales, returns rich beyond his needs to his hometown, falls in love and marries Leonara, a far younger girl (a teenager to his 68 years; Lolita?), and does everything he can to protect this. He finds a brand new house and custom builds in two doors, never letting anyone inside the inner door, besides some servants he hires. A turnstile is installed, with revolving partitions for things like necessities and food can to be passed through without hand contact. He also buys friends for her. Essentially locks her in this house, giving her everything she wants except her freedom. Not knowing anything else, she is relatively happy. Unfortunately, a younger man, Loaysa, manages to enter and seduce Leonora by means of a very intricate plan involving sleep potions, befriending the black slave, insincere promises of guitar playing lessons, seduction with beautiful music and festivities. In the last pages of the book, Carrizales finds his wife asleep in bed with Loaysa, and instead of blaming them he blames himself. Ashamed at the way he treated Leonora he quietly retreats and dies, but not before asking for forgiveness, apologizing, and ensuring that everyone, Leonora's parents included, are taken care of after he dies from his pained heart. Afterwards, Leonora decides not to marry Loaysa and instead joins a convent. Loaysa in turn escapes to the new world. Obviously liked the redemption aspect, although there should have been more character development in Carrizales, which was more of a side character in the background once he was married. Aside from that, though, it was another adventure read, with much humor and a little intrigue as Loyosa conscientiously makes his way into the highly guarded establishment and way of life. It was now for this that I liked this one than the ending, which I did not care for. A little overdramatic and Shakespearean.
The Glass Graduate: No real character development, pacing not right, anticlimactic. What I really liked about it was the creative concept Cervantes illustrates in which a man, Tomás, after studying law, is given a love potion and inadvertently poisoned by a shunned lover. After physically recovering, unfortunately, he is delusional, convinced that his whole body is composed entirely of glass. His unshakable belief, combined with Tomás' clever, memorable aphorisms in conversation with everyone he meets, make Tomás famous throughout Spain. There are many humorous things he says in response to anyone who asks, promises to answer all questions directed to him. Blunt, harsh, satirical, use of wordplay. When he eventually is cured, he returns to law, only to discover that no one can let him forget who he was and has no interest in anything new he had to say as a lucid man. If this story were only these last pages, and shorter, this probably would have been my favorite story. (The first 7 pages were nothing of any interest, telling about military travels and his small beginnings, the next 15 pages tell of after his delusion begins, the last 2 page explain the events after he is cured; like I said, the pacing.) Both one and five stars.
Dialogue of the Dogs: Written in dialogue form, the two speakers being dogs. It was actually quite an irritating read overall, the excessive religion, the constant interruption from Scipio to try to get Berganza not to gossip. They spent practically one quarter of the time philosophizing about what they should not talk about and being worried about running out of time before this gift of speech was taken away from them. Far more religious pontificating than I wanted. Plus, it was a rather vague ending; I was disappointed not to get to read about Scipio's life story. I was more interested in his adventures, literally traveling from master to master and therefore occupation to occupation, guard dog to sheepdog to pet to show dog, which I savored while I could, before being overshadowed, yet again, with the focus on religion and sin, philosophy and vice. The idea that they were once humans was intriguing, but at the end of the day we are encouraged to hesitate before believing any of it. Another both one and five stars story.
The Deceitful Marriage: Accompanies the next story (in the published chronological order), as the author of "Dialogue of the Dogs" tells, in this story, his story. Far shorter than the other stories in the collection, still a fun read. Short and simple. Essentially, it sucks when you are a con artist that is conned. You cannot really complain, but you really feel like you can. During his recovery from syphilis, lying on a hospital bed, he begins two listen in on two dogs talking next to him. Or maybe it is a lucid dream? He records what they say, the result being the next story.
The Illustrious Kitchen Maid: This one was a little dull for me. Funny at times, but that was about it. Long, with nothing very memorable. Wikipedia summarizes: It tells the story of two wealthy young men who fall in love with a kitchen maid in Toledo. The story contains mistaken identities, ironic comments and genre traits of the picaresque novel and pastoral romance.
The Power of Blood: I could not stand this because it condones rape. Here is the general plot: guy rapes girl, girl gives birth, guy's mother finds out the identity of girl's son (thus her grandson), arranges for her son the rapist to meet the rapee again, they fall in love, are married; fairytale wedding, supposedly. Despite the good writing, the proficient examination and play on class and power, there is no way I could ever truly like a story that grandson by making it a fairytale ending when the relationship started as a rape.
January 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This would have probably been 5 stars if I hadn't read them all back to back (which is my own fault of course!) I just felt that a few of them were very similar in characters, theme, message etc.
Having said that, they are still exceedingly enjoyable! Just ever so slightly less than his masterpiece Don Quixote.
Thoroughly enjoyed these short stories 🥰✨
This would have probably been 5 stars if I hadn't read them all back to back (which is my own fault of course!) I just felt that a few of them were very similar in characters, theme, message etc.
Having said that, they are still exceedingly enjoyable! Just ever so slightly less than his masterpiece Don Quixote.
Thoroughly enjoyed these short stories 🥰✨
October 2, 2019
Entrando en contexto de que estos relatos tiene mas de 400 años y que probablemente divirtieron y entretuvieron mucho a las generaciones de ese entonces, además de reconocerle a Cervantes su visión en crear historias como nadie lo había hecho antes, creo que en nuestra época son novelas muy buenas, pero muy repetitivas en cuanto a la estructura.
Si lees 1 o 2 probablemente gusten mucho ,ya que realmente son entretenidas, pero conforme empiezas a leer más te das cuenta que son lo mismo, solo cambia los personajes y locaciones pero es más de lo mismo, así que todas sus fortalezas a la vez son sus debilidades de estas obras.
Son obras muy bien estructuradas, tienen un principio, un desarrollo y un desenlace (solo hay una obra que no tiene final feliz) pero todas las demás tienen finales felices y ya sea que te imaginas desde antes en que va acabar o de la nada se saca un final que dices “para que leí todo este rollo sí pudieron haber hecho eso desde un principio”.
Lo mejor de Cervantes es el drama y el amor, lo desarrolla muy bien y te adentras en su trama, pero repito, utiliza el mismo ritmo en todas sus obras que termina siendo repetitivo y aburrido, y lo que si nunca me gusto de ninguna obra fueron las aventuras de los personajes, sus viajes, batallas, hazañas, me resultaron muy aburridas, enredadas y muchas veces sin fundamento, sino solamente para rellenar hojas.
Desconozco que hubiera pasado si leía primero unas novelas que no me gustaron y después las que si me gustaron, creo que hubiera cambiado mi perspectiva respecto a ellas ya que las volvería a encontrar aburridas y repetitivas a las anteriores, y a pesar de ser muy similares casi todas hay que decir que hay dos o tres novelas muy buenas y otras contrariamente muy malas.
Si lees 1 o 2 probablemente gusten mucho ,ya que realmente son entretenidas, pero conforme empiezas a leer más te das cuenta que son lo mismo, solo cambia los personajes y locaciones pero es más de lo mismo, así que todas sus fortalezas a la vez son sus debilidades de estas obras.
Son obras muy bien estructuradas, tienen un principio, un desarrollo y un desenlace (solo hay una obra que no tiene final feliz) pero todas las demás tienen finales felices y ya sea que te imaginas desde antes en que va acabar o de la nada se saca un final que dices “para que leí todo este rollo sí pudieron haber hecho eso desde un principio”.
Lo mejor de Cervantes es el drama y el amor, lo desarrolla muy bien y te adentras en su trama, pero repito, utiliza el mismo ritmo en todas sus obras que termina siendo repetitivo y aburrido, y lo que si nunca me gusto de ninguna obra fueron las aventuras de los personajes, sus viajes, batallas, hazañas, me resultaron muy aburridas, enredadas y muchas veces sin fundamento, sino solamente para rellenar hojas.
Desconozco que hubiera pasado si leía primero unas novelas que no me gustaron y después las que si me gustaron, creo que hubiera cambiado mi perspectiva respecto a ellas ya que las volvería a encontrar aburridas y repetitivas a las anteriores, y a pesar de ser muy similares casi todas hay que decir que hay dos o tres novelas muy buenas y otras contrariamente muy malas.
July 15, 2019
4.5
Full of stories that enchant from the first sentence, inviting the reader to settle in, listen well, because one of the masters is going to tell a story. It's not always a happy ending for a modern reader; some of the heroines end up with men who eminently do not deserve them and some of the characters say bigoted things. However, Cervantes also gives us savvy talking dogs, characters who leap over religious differences, and eloquently sassy heroines.
Full of stories that enchant from the first sentence, inviting the reader to settle in, listen well, because one of the masters is going to tell a story. It's not always a happy ending for a modern reader; some of the heroines end up with men who eminently do not deserve them and some of the characters say bigoted things. However, Cervantes also gives us savvy talking dogs, characters who leap over religious differences, and eloquently sassy heroines.
February 3, 2021
Es altamente conocido lo que vino a representar el Don Quijote de la Mancha para la literatura española y la literatura universal. Una obra genuinamente critica contra la tradición caballeresca, por el tratamiento burlesco que da la misma. Cuando en el mundo se salta a otros idiomas, el solo hecho de preguntar de la más grandes obra en español, las demás lenguas siempre recurren a este libro. Cervantes que cultivo tres géneros literarios: poesía, teatro y narrativa, dejo para posteridad la estampa que cambió el juego de hacer literatura, y en virtud a eso abre las puertas para ser considerada la primera novela moderna y obra cumbre de la literatura. Ya esta introducción es el trillo hacia las novelas que vamos a tratar.
Hablar de las Novelas ejemplares de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra es asomarse a una colección de doce novelas cortas, donde su autor a través de estos escritos quiere crear una serie de obras ejemplarizantes e idealistas. Él mismo prologa: ‟Heles dado el nombre de ejemplares, y si bien lo miras, no hay ninguna de quien no se pueda sacar algún ejemplo provechoso, y si no fuera por no alargar este sujeto, quizá te mostrará el sabroso y honesto fruto que se podría sacar, así de todas juntas como de cada una de por si”. Leerlas es navegar entre dos apuestas: realismo e idealismo, un grupo de ellas realistas donde predomina la observación de la realidad, como Rinconete y Cortadillo y El coloquio de los perros, mientras que en la otra esquina están las idealistas, que se pintan en la imaginación como: La Fuerza de la sangre, La Española inglesa o El amante liberal.
La mejor forma, y la cual no es mi intención, es que las lea y encontrará muchos temas: amor, libertad, el valor del individuo, hace mucho hincapié a la moral, tras bambalinas le hace su critica a la clase dominante. Nos muestra el papel de la mujer en aquella sociedad, donde en ocasiones se veían como simple objeto pecuniario. La gitanilla, El amante liberal, Rinconete y Cortadillo, La española inglesa, La fuerza de la sangre, El celoso extremeño, El licenciado vidriera, La ilustre fregona, Las dos doncellas, El casamiento engañoso y El coloquio de los perros.
Hablar de las Novelas ejemplares de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra es asomarse a una colección de doce novelas cortas, donde su autor a través de estos escritos quiere crear una serie de obras ejemplarizantes e idealistas. Él mismo prologa: ‟Heles dado el nombre de ejemplares, y si bien lo miras, no hay ninguna de quien no se pueda sacar algún ejemplo provechoso, y si no fuera por no alargar este sujeto, quizá te mostrará el sabroso y honesto fruto que se podría sacar, así de todas juntas como de cada una de por si”. Leerlas es navegar entre dos apuestas: realismo e idealismo, un grupo de ellas realistas donde predomina la observación de la realidad, como Rinconete y Cortadillo y El coloquio de los perros, mientras que en la otra esquina están las idealistas, que se pintan en la imaginación como: La Fuerza de la sangre, La Española inglesa o El amante liberal.
La mejor forma, y la cual no es mi intención, es que las lea y encontrará muchos temas: amor, libertad, el valor del individuo, hace mucho hincapié a la moral, tras bambalinas le hace su critica a la clase dominante. Nos muestra el papel de la mujer en aquella sociedad, donde en ocasiones se veían como simple objeto pecuniario. La gitanilla, El amante liberal, Rinconete y Cortadillo, La española inglesa, La fuerza de la sangre, El celoso extremeño, El licenciado vidriera, La ilustre fregona, Las dos doncellas, El casamiento engañoso y El coloquio de los perros.
March 13, 2021
ESPAÑOL: Excelente conjunto de 12 novelas cortas. Mi preferida es "La señora Cornelia", y la que menos me gustó "La fuerza de la sangre".
ENGLISH: Excellent set of twelve short novels. I liked most "La señora Cornelia" and least "La fuerza de la sangre".
ENGLISH: Excellent set of twelve short novels. I liked most "La señora Cornelia" and least "La fuerza de la sangre".
August 14, 2023
I (re)read this excellent translation of this outstanding collection of a dozen short stories and novellas over the course of the last year. The stories were collected together by Cervantes and published between the first and second parts of Don Quixote. They have an enormous range, geographically (Spain, Italy, England, and more), class (from Queen Elizabeth to thieves and prostitutes with everything in between), styles (romances, tragedies, picaresque, and even one story of madness--a lawyer who thought he was made of glass) and themes (marriage, betrayal, deceit, coincidences, and more).
The worst stories are thoroughly entertaining, the best stories are something more. In some ways they are like Don Quixote and they are a lot like the interpolated tales in Part I, which Cervantes did not repeat in Part II, in part because of criticism he got, which might be why they are published here. The similarities with Don Quixote are the range of characters, the world of the classical Mediterranean and a light humor to many of them. But in other ways they are diametrically the opposite because other than the one about the glass lawyer and a colloquy between two dogs they are largely unrepentant romanticism, sword fights, damsels in distress (although the women in the book have substantial agency), without a whiff of parody. In that way they were more like longer versions of the tales in Boccaccio.
The worst stories are thoroughly entertaining, the best stories are something more. In some ways they are like Don Quixote and they are a lot like the interpolated tales in Part I, which Cervantes did not repeat in Part II, in part because of criticism he got, which might be why they are published here. The similarities with Don Quixote are the range of characters, the world of the classical Mediterranean and a light humor to many of them. But in other ways they are diametrically the opposite because other than the one about the glass lawyer and a colloquy between two dogs they are largely unrepentant romanticism, sword fights, damsels in distress (although the women in the book have substantial agency), without a whiff of parody. In that way they were more like longer versions of the tales in Boccaccio.
June 3, 2014
Cervantes, un grande entre los grandes de la literatura española. Tengo que decir, que después de Don Quijote, las Novelas Ejemplares me tentaron, pero lo cierto es que se me hicieron pesadas y no tan divertidas como las peripecias de Don Quijote y Sancho. Algunas me interesaron y otras se me hicieron cuesta arriba, pero estoy contenta de haber leído algo más de Cervantes, de conocer palabras y expresiones que se empleaban en la época, de tener presentes los ideales que se imponían en la literatura de esos tiempos y en conocer más de la España del siglo XVII.
December 28, 2022
ESPAÑOL: Excelente conjunto de 12 novelas cortas. Mi preferida es "La señora Cornelia", y la que menos me gustó "La fuerza de la sangre".
ENGLISH: Excellent set of 12 novellas. I like best "Mistress Cornelia" and least "The strength of blood."
ENGLISH: Excellent set of 12 novellas. I like best "Mistress Cornelia" and least "The strength of blood."
May 2, 2022
A la par de la lectura, pueden ir viendo las explicaciones que de cada novela hace G Maestro en Youtube. Siento que se perfila como una de mis mejores lecturas del año ¡Y gratis en Kindle! 😁
December 18, 2024
Shorts. Many explore the relations of reality to ideal, truth to appearance, freedom to circumstances.
April 24, 2021
Yksitoista (tai kaksitoista) oivaltavaa ja mukaansatempaavaa novellia.
"Opettavaisia kertomuksia" kuulostaa puuduttavan tylsältä, mutta novellien sisällöstä päätellen se on joko ironisesti annettu tai sumuverhoksi valittu. Pateettisimmin moralisoiva tarina on onneksi jätetty kokoelman loppuun. Joissain novelleissa opetus on lisätty kuin hutaisten "Ai niin, tällainenkin piti tässä olla.".
"Tekopyhyys sopii minulle paremmin kuin elämä julkisyntisenä."
- Koirien keskustelu
Tämä oli minulle todella positiivinen yllätys, sillä Don Quijoten kanssa meillä ei muistaakseni oikein synkannut. Siinä tosin taisin tykätä paljon kehystarinan sisään upotetuista lyhytkertomuksista. Tässä kokoelmassa seikkailee vain yksi järkensä menettänyt päähenkilö. Sen sijaan erittäin toistuva päähenkilö tarinoissa on tavallisen kansalaisen valepukuun pukeutunut hyväosainen ylimys. Tämä lienee ollut 1600-luvun Espanjan vapain hahmo: vapaa sosiaalisista, yhteiskunnallisen asemansa asettamista velvoitteista ja rooliodotuksista, mutta taloudellisesti turvatussa tilanteessa matkatakseen melko mukavasti.
"Rakastuttuani sinuun olen kulkenut kohti uudenlaisen rakkauden tietä ja jättänyt taakseni polun, joka päätyy aistillisten halujen tyydyttämiseen."
- Englantilainen espanjatar
Novellit ovat todella kiinnostavia aikalaiskuvauksia niin romantisoidusta, jalosta yläluokasta kuin kurjiksi kuvatusta alaluokasta. Niissä seikkaillaan niin majataloissa, orjakaleereissa kuin ilotaloissakin. Mukana on toki rutkasti xenofobiaa, antisemitismiä ja misogyniaa ja erityisesti romaneista Cervantes käyttää niin kurjaa kieltä, että välillä teki mieli melkein lakata lukemasta. Juonenkäänteiden sydämen pysäyttävissä kurveissa sen sijaan kalpenee moni nykyajan saippuaooppera.
Eniten minua yllätti, kuinka paljon mustia henkilöhahmoja tarinoissa oli ja kuinka helpoksi kuvattiin sekä mustien että valkoisten orjien ostaminen tuosta vain Sevillan markkinoilta. Minua jäi kiinnostamaan valtavasti, mitä näille mustille orjille tapahtui vuosisatojen edetessä. Muuttivatko he takaisin Afrikkaan? Vai kenties Amerikkoihin? Mitä tapahtui heidän jälkeläisilleen ja kuinka paljon meillä Euroopassa on ihmisiä, jotka polveutuvat suoraan näistä henkilöistä?
Henkilökohtainen lukuhaaste: 1600-luku.
"Opettavaisia kertomuksia" kuulostaa puuduttavan tylsältä, mutta novellien sisällöstä päätellen se on joko ironisesti annettu tai sumuverhoksi valittu. Pateettisimmin moralisoiva tarina on onneksi jätetty kokoelman loppuun. Joissain novelleissa opetus on lisätty kuin hutaisten "Ai niin, tällainenkin piti tässä olla.".
"Tekopyhyys sopii minulle paremmin kuin elämä julkisyntisenä."
- Koirien keskustelu
Tämä oli minulle todella positiivinen yllätys, sillä Don Quijoten kanssa meillä ei muistaakseni oikein synkannut. Siinä tosin taisin tykätä paljon kehystarinan sisään upotetuista lyhytkertomuksista. Tässä kokoelmassa seikkailee vain yksi järkensä menettänyt päähenkilö. Sen sijaan erittäin toistuva päähenkilö tarinoissa on tavallisen kansalaisen valepukuun pukeutunut hyväosainen ylimys. Tämä lienee ollut 1600-luvun Espanjan vapain hahmo: vapaa sosiaalisista, yhteiskunnallisen asemansa asettamista velvoitteista ja rooliodotuksista, mutta taloudellisesti turvatussa tilanteessa matkatakseen melko mukavasti.
"Rakastuttuani sinuun olen kulkenut kohti uudenlaisen rakkauden tietä ja jättänyt taakseni polun, joka päätyy aistillisten halujen tyydyttämiseen."
- Englantilainen espanjatar
Novellit ovat todella kiinnostavia aikalaiskuvauksia niin romantisoidusta, jalosta yläluokasta kuin kurjiksi kuvatusta alaluokasta. Niissä seikkaillaan niin majataloissa, orjakaleereissa kuin ilotaloissakin. Mukana on toki rutkasti xenofobiaa, antisemitismiä ja misogyniaa ja erityisesti romaneista Cervantes käyttää niin kurjaa kieltä, että välillä teki mieli melkein lakata lukemasta. Juonenkäänteiden sydämen pysäyttävissä kurveissa sen sijaan kalpenee moni nykyajan saippuaooppera.
Eniten minua yllätti, kuinka paljon mustia henkilöhahmoja tarinoissa oli ja kuinka helpoksi kuvattiin sekä mustien että valkoisten orjien ostaminen tuosta vain Sevillan markkinoilta. Minua jäi kiinnostamaan valtavasti, mitä näille mustille orjille tapahtui vuosisatojen edetessä. Muuttivatko he takaisin Afrikkaan? Vai kenties Amerikkoihin? Mitä tapahtui heidän jälkeläisilleen ja kuinka paljon meillä Euroopassa on ihmisiä, jotka polveutuvat suoraan näistä henkilöistä?
Henkilökohtainen lukuhaaste: 1600-luku.
August 28, 2025
A bit of a disappointment, interesting from a cultural history point of view, not so much as a literary work. The novellas are quite stereotypical and deal with how somebody gets back to his or her deserved place in the estate based feudal society. Usually physical beauty is an indicator for a high social status. So quite a difference from the caricature of the same values in Don Quixote. The most convincing story is the one not fitting into this pattern "el licenciado Vidreira" about a lower class lawyer who under the influence of a potion believes he is made of glass, but also has the ability to answer intricate legal questions until his delusion is cured.
Two observations:
While Jews and Gipsies are described in exclusively negative terms, Turks are presented in more ambiguously: religio-political opponents of course, but also following similar concepts of honor as the Spaniards. In this respect Cervantes follows a Medieval pattern, but the same attitude characterizes his approach to Protestant Englishmen in "La española inglesa".
The geographical scope is basically European-Mediterranean, in addition to Spain Italy, Spanish ruled Flanders, England and the Ottoman Empires. The "Indies" appear only on the margins, as a place to which people disappear and from which they return with riches.
Two observations:
While Jews and Gipsies are described in exclusively negative terms, Turks are presented in more ambiguously: religio-political opponents of course, but also following similar concepts of honor as the Spaniards. In this respect Cervantes follows a Medieval pattern, but the same attitude characterizes his approach to Protestant Englishmen in "La española inglesa".
The geographical scope is basically European-Mediterranean, in addition to Spain Italy, Spanish ruled Flanders, England and the Ottoman Empires. The "Indies" appear only on the margins, as a place to which people disappear and from which they return with riches.
May 25, 2017
Ανεξάρτητα με το περιεχόμενο, τις νουβέλες δηλαδή (οι οποίες είναι μια χαρά για την εποχή που γράφτηκαν), το εν λόγω δίτομο βιβλίο αποτελεί μια πραγματικά εξαιρετική έκδοση, με άριστη μετάφραση-απόδοση, και το βασικότερο, αναλυτικές υποσημειώσεις για ιστορικές, κυρίως, πληροφορίες, που εμπλουτίζουν και δίνουν πολύ μεγαλύτερη αξία στο περιεχόμενο των μεταφρασμένων κειμένων.
March 16, 2025
Novelas de calidad dispar, las que mas me han gustado la de rinconete y cortadillo y la ilustre fregona
January 30, 2022
:-) x 12.
January 26, 2025
Cervantes, sempre magistral. Una crítica aguda (on ningú surt il·lès) que encara avui fa mal. A prova d'idiotes.
November 2, 2025
Fa uns anys, em vaig imposar la lectura del Quijote com a una d'aquelles coses que s'havien de fer. Em vaig preparar per patir, per no caure en el desànim i per arribar a bon port. Però com sovint em passa amb els clàssics, em vaig submergir en aquella lectura i em va resultar fascinant i en vaig gaudir molt. No només no va ser una batalla contra l'avorriment, sinó que m'ho vaig passar d'allò més bé. Ara, anys més tard, disposat a gaudir d'una nova obra del mestre Cervantes, vaig decidir enfrontar-me a aquestes novel·les exemplars: quina decepció!
El llenguatge antic i entortolligat, uns temes antiquats des de fa molts lustres (tot això no podia ser d'una altra manera, vist el pas del temps. Però amb altres obres de l'època un pot no tenir una sensació tan acusada d'això), una intenció alliçonadora des del minut u. Gairebé tot se sustenta al voltant de l'honor dels cavallers, la puresa de les dones, la maldat dels gitanos i els moriscos i la innocència de la bona gent. Algunes idees bones que es perden en un sentit de mirar de treure'n gràcia d'on no n'hi ha i un ensalçamet desmesurat de la pàtria i dels patriotes.
Potser soc jo que no he acabat d'entendre (ho confesso) algunes coses de les que eren explicades. Però la meva imperícia lectora no treu la raó a que aquestes novel·les no gaudeixin de la fama i prestigi del Quixot.
El llenguatge antic i entortolligat, uns temes antiquats des de fa molts lustres (tot això no podia ser d'una altra manera, vist el pas del temps. Però amb altres obres de l'època un pot no tenir una sensació tan acusada d'això), una intenció alliçonadora des del minut u. Gairebé tot se sustenta al voltant de l'honor dels cavallers, la puresa de les dones, la maldat dels gitanos i els moriscos i la innocència de la bona gent. Algunes idees bones que es perden en un sentit de mirar de treure'n gràcia d'on no n'hi ha i un ensalçamet desmesurat de la pàtria i dels patriotes.
Potser soc jo que no he acabat d'entendre (ho confesso) algunes coses de les que eren explicades. Però la meva imperícia lectora no treu la raó a que aquestes novel·les no gaudeixin de la fama i prestigi del Quixot.
April 30, 2025
favorite class this sem great book i’m gonna miss my man manuel
November 28, 2025
Interminable, like all Cervantes. Though, I can't help but respect a collection that is the literary grandfather of both Oliver Twist and Kafka's Investigations of a Dog, among, I'm sure, others.
December 16, 2025
12 novelas 12 meses... algunas un poco aburridas/repetitivas pero en general buena lectura!
November 2, 2024
Imposible no recordar a Don Quijote en esta serie de novelas cortas.
Aquí predomina la picaresca, el enredo y la crítica humorística.
Cervantes muestra su opinión de ciertas poblaciones que hoy también dan que hablar (no diremos más).
Y el patio de Monipodio describe el hampa antes de Ford Coppola.
Hay también partes en verso que tienen su interés, pero esencialmente gusta este castellano.
Aquí predomina la picaresca, el enredo y la crítica humorística.
Cervantes muestra su opinión de ciertas poblaciones que hoy también dan que hablar (no diremos más).
Y el patio de Monipodio describe el hampa antes de Ford Coppola.
Hay también partes en verso que tienen su interés, pero esencialmente gusta este castellano.
August 8, 2022
É uma coletânea de 12 novelas escritas entre 1590 e 1612 e publicadas em 1613. Segundo o próprio Cervantes, seguiriam o modelo da novela italiana e ele seria o primeiro a usá-lo em língua espanhola. Além disso, diz ele que “...se prestares bem atenção, verá que não há nenhuma da qual não se possa tirar algum exemplo proveitoso”. Daí o exemplares do título.
Variam muito em extensão e apesar de escritas durante um período tão longo, conseguem-se manter um nível de qualidade que me pareceu bastante alto. Há, é claro, algumas estórias que me agradaram mais. Acho que as minhas preferidas são “O licenciado de vidro” e “O colóquio dos cães”. De qualquer modo, nenhum me desagradou.
Diga-se, ainda, que esse não é um livro para ‘ofendidinhos’. Se o sujeito acha que Cervantes escreveria para atender ao leitor ultrassensível do século XXI, é melhor colocar esse livro de lado, aliás, talvez seja melhor colocar qualquer livro de lado e abandonar as leituras em geral, ou, para utilizar uma frase d’O colóquio dos cachorros “quem é néscio em sua terra, néscio é em Castela” ou, como o próprio Cervantes conclui a introdução “...que Deus te guarde e a mim dê paciência para receber bem o mal que falarão de mim uns quatro ou mais ardilosos e pedantes. Adeus.”
Seus personagens são gente comum no sentido de serem aquilo que as pessoas são. Há, é claro, gente pior e melhor, mas de modo geral, se comportam com os vícios (muitos) e virtudes (poucos) que as pessoas têm.
Há, obviamente, elementos que representam aquela sociedade. O caráter estamental em que cada um tem o seu lugar a permanecer. Nobres lá, plebeus acolá. De outro lado, representa bem o quão complicada pode ser a situação dos pobres, dos desabrigados e até mesmo das mulheres, sempre à mercê dos homens, muito frequentemente incapazes de controlar as suas paixões. Não raro, as mulheres são dotadas de mais inteligência ou esperteza porque precisam sobreviver em um mundo que lhes é hostil. Ser vista pode ser um risco para elas. A beleza nem sempre é uma vantagem.
Eis um exemplo d’A ciganinha: “Esses senhores bem podem te entregar meu corpo, mas não minha alma, que é livre, nasceu livre e há de ser livre enquanto eu quiser” (A ciganinha, p. 67)
O mundo das ruas, das tabernas, das estradas é, essencialmente, um mundo de perigos e riscos, no qual tudo pode mudar em um instante. A lealdade expressa pela camaradagem é, muitas vezes, o meio para melhorar as chances de sobrevivência nesse mundo de incertezas e hostilidades.
Para os que estão no fundo do poço, a saída pode ser as Índias, “refúgio e amparo dos desesperados da Espanha, igreja dos falidos, salvo-conduto dos homicidas, abrigo e proteção dos jogadores a quem os peritos nessa arte chamam ciertos, esparrela geral de mulheres livres, engano comum de muitos e remédio particular de poucos.
Nas novelas de que mais gostei, ele usa certas artimanhas para apresentar os podres da sociedade. Em “O licenciado de vidro”, a loucura, tal qual em Quixote, abre as portas para o personagem que pode ser desculpado por aquilo que diz.
Em “O colóquio dos cachorros” ele usa o artificio dos cachorros falantes para isso. Animais, aliás, que podem, no final das contas, ser apenas o produto da loucura do narrador.
Eis um trecho desse conto:
“Impõe-se hoje uma lei e rompe-se amanhã com ela; e talvez isso seja conveniente. Hoje, alguém promete deixar seus vícios e, no momento seguinte, cai em outros piores. Uma coisa é elogiar a disciplina e, outra, dar-se bem com ela. Na verdade, do dito ao feito há um grande trecho” (p. 466). Isso é bem o mundo do século XXI. Pensemos nas leis e nas instituições. Não é exatamente isso o que acontece?
Mas colocar coisas na boca de cachorros, sem dúvida, permite que a crítica seja aceitável. Vejamos um outro (dentre muitos) exemplo desses aforismos: “para alguns, o fato de ser versado em latim, não desculpa o de ser asno” (p. 463)
Por fim, fica o conselho dos cães: “andar por outras terras e conhecer outras pessoas torna sábios os homens” (p. 477), uma variação de um ditado da época: “três coisas tornam sábios os homens: letras, idade e viagens”.
Variam muito em extensão e apesar de escritas durante um período tão longo, conseguem-se manter um nível de qualidade que me pareceu bastante alto. Há, é claro, algumas estórias que me agradaram mais. Acho que as minhas preferidas são “O licenciado de vidro” e “O colóquio dos cães”. De qualquer modo, nenhum me desagradou.
Diga-se, ainda, que esse não é um livro para ‘ofendidinhos’. Se o sujeito acha que Cervantes escreveria para atender ao leitor ultrassensível do século XXI, é melhor colocar esse livro de lado, aliás, talvez seja melhor colocar qualquer livro de lado e abandonar as leituras em geral, ou, para utilizar uma frase d’O colóquio dos cachorros “quem é néscio em sua terra, néscio é em Castela” ou, como o próprio Cervantes conclui a introdução “...que Deus te guarde e a mim dê paciência para receber bem o mal que falarão de mim uns quatro ou mais ardilosos e pedantes. Adeus.”
Seus personagens são gente comum no sentido de serem aquilo que as pessoas são. Há, é claro, gente pior e melhor, mas de modo geral, se comportam com os vícios (muitos) e virtudes (poucos) que as pessoas têm.
Há, obviamente, elementos que representam aquela sociedade. O caráter estamental em que cada um tem o seu lugar a permanecer. Nobres lá, plebeus acolá. De outro lado, representa bem o quão complicada pode ser a situação dos pobres, dos desabrigados e até mesmo das mulheres, sempre à mercê dos homens, muito frequentemente incapazes de controlar as suas paixões. Não raro, as mulheres são dotadas de mais inteligência ou esperteza porque precisam sobreviver em um mundo que lhes é hostil. Ser vista pode ser um risco para elas. A beleza nem sempre é uma vantagem.
Eis um exemplo d’A ciganinha: “Esses senhores bem podem te entregar meu corpo, mas não minha alma, que é livre, nasceu livre e há de ser livre enquanto eu quiser” (A ciganinha, p. 67)
O mundo das ruas, das tabernas, das estradas é, essencialmente, um mundo de perigos e riscos, no qual tudo pode mudar em um instante. A lealdade expressa pela camaradagem é, muitas vezes, o meio para melhorar as chances de sobrevivência nesse mundo de incertezas e hostilidades.
Para os que estão no fundo do poço, a saída pode ser as Índias, “refúgio e amparo dos desesperados da Espanha, igreja dos falidos, salvo-conduto dos homicidas, abrigo e proteção dos jogadores a quem os peritos nessa arte chamam ciertos, esparrela geral de mulheres livres, engano comum de muitos e remédio particular de poucos.
Nas novelas de que mais gostei, ele usa certas artimanhas para apresentar os podres da sociedade. Em “O licenciado de vidro”, a loucura, tal qual em Quixote, abre as portas para o personagem que pode ser desculpado por aquilo que diz.
Em “O colóquio dos cachorros” ele usa o artificio dos cachorros falantes para isso. Animais, aliás, que podem, no final das contas, ser apenas o produto da loucura do narrador.
Eis um trecho desse conto:
“Impõe-se hoje uma lei e rompe-se amanhã com ela; e talvez isso seja conveniente. Hoje, alguém promete deixar seus vícios e, no momento seguinte, cai em outros piores. Uma coisa é elogiar a disciplina e, outra, dar-se bem com ela. Na verdade, do dito ao feito há um grande trecho” (p. 466). Isso é bem o mundo do século XXI. Pensemos nas leis e nas instituições. Não é exatamente isso o que acontece?
Mas colocar coisas na boca de cachorros, sem dúvida, permite que a crítica seja aceitável. Vejamos um outro (dentre muitos) exemplo desses aforismos: “para alguns, o fato de ser versado em latim, não desculpa o de ser asno” (p. 463)
Por fim, fica o conselho dos cães: “andar por outras terras e conhecer outras pessoas torna sábios os homens” (p. 477), uma variação de um ditado da época: “três coisas tornam sábios os homens: letras, idade e viagens”.
June 17, 2020
Esta es una obra (casi) maestra. Cervantes compone una auténtica y completísima cartografía estética y social de su época.
A través de once novelas cortas de distinto género y motivo, pero de muchos vínculos comunes, recorre prácticamente toda la geografía española (desde Cádiz hasta Zaragoza, pasando por Valladolid, Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Córdoba y Sevilla) y buena parte de la europea (con especial énfasis en las ciudades y regiones italianas de Nápoles, Milán, Florencia, Roma y Venecia, pero también algunas aproximaciones a Londres, Flandes y Francia).
Asimismo, pasa de la picaresca a la novela de altamar, del drama serio al juego púber, de la novela amorosa al experimentalismo del coloquio de los perros.
Pero a pesar de sus diferentes temas, todas estas novelas están atravesadas por los mismos elementos centrales: en el plano estilístico, el enredo y el artificio; en el plano temático, la deshonra.
Es decir, en todas estas historias, hay doncellas engañados y caballeros engañadores, sorpresas a mitad del camino, descubrimientos impensados (muchos de los cuales tienen que ver con parentesco) y finales a lo policial, predecibles pero originalmente argumentados.
En una palabra: son novelas sobre el crecimiento. Sobre la pérdida de la virignidad sexual y social. Sobre cómo el mundo nos cambia física y espiritualmente. Sobre el amor, el sexo, el crimen y el mundo popular. Sobre las consecuencias de meterse en mundo adulto y en el mundo popular.
Sobre esos dos tipos de "deshonra": sexual y social.
Sobre esa pérdida, esa ruptura, que empuja a los personajes a buscar soluciones en el futuro, pues el pasado ya no se puede cambiar.
Como si Cervantes nos estuviera diciendo que ante la pérdida de la inocencia, lo único que queda para consolarse es seguir, intentar desenredar la madeja del propio destino y hallar ahí la solución a esa pérdida.
Pero hay más en estas novelas.
A través de once novelas cortas de distinto género y motivo, pero de muchos vínculos comunes, recorre prácticamente toda la geografía española (desde Cádiz hasta Zaragoza, pasando por Valladolid, Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Córdoba y Sevilla) y buena parte de la europea (con especial énfasis en las ciudades y regiones italianas de Nápoles, Milán, Florencia, Roma y Venecia, pero también algunas aproximaciones a Londres, Flandes y Francia).
Asimismo, pasa de la picaresca a la novela de altamar, del drama serio al juego púber, de la novela amorosa al experimentalismo del coloquio de los perros.
Pero a pesar de sus diferentes temas, todas estas novelas están atravesadas por los mismos elementos centrales: en el plano estilístico, el enredo y el artificio; en el plano temático, la deshonra.
Es decir, en todas estas historias, hay doncellas engañados y caballeros engañadores, sorpresas a mitad del camino, descubrimientos impensados (muchos de los cuales tienen que ver con parentesco) y finales a lo policial, predecibles pero originalmente argumentados.
En una palabra: son novelas sobre el crecimiento. Sobre la pérdida de la virignidad sexual y social. Sobre cómo el mundo nos cambia física y espiritualmente. Sobre el amor, el sexo, el crimen y el mundo popular. Sobre las consecuencias de meterse en mundo adulto y en el mundo popular.
Sobre esos dos tipos de "deshonra": sexual y social.
Sobre esa pérdida, esa ruptura, que empuja a los personajes a buscar soluciones en el futuro, pues el pasado ya no se puede cambiar.
Como si Cervantes nos estuviera diciendo que ante la pérdida de la inocencia, lo único que queda para consolarse es seguir, intentar desenredar la madeja del propio destino y hallar ahí la solución a esa pérdida.
Pero hay más en estas novelas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2018
Deixo adiante um trecho da última novela, que é um prazer de descoberta. E vale muito mais do que tentar explicar alguma coisa sobre alguém tão conhecido e vivido como Cervantes.
"A isso te respondo, como se me perguntasses, que o costume do vício se torna natureza, e este de ser bruxas se transforma em sangue e carne, e no meio do seu ardor, que é grande, traz um tal frio que põe na alma que a resfria e desanima até na fé, de onde nasce um esquecimento de si mesma, e nem se lembra dos temores com que Deus a ameaça nem da glória com que a convida; e, na verdade, como é pecado de carne e de prazeres, é forçoso que entorpeça todos os sentidos, e os enleve e distraia, sem deixá-los usar seus ofícios como devem; e assim, ficando a alma inútil, frouxa e desmazelada, não pode elevar a consideração sequer a ter algum bom pensamento; e assim, deixando-se ficar submersa no profundo abismo de sua miséria, não quer elevar a mão à de Deus, que a está dando apenas por sua misericórdia para que se levante. Eu tenho uma dessas almas que te pintei. Vejo tudo e tudo entendo, mas, como prazer me pôs grilhões perguntado, sempre fui e serei má."
"A isso te respondo, como se me perguntasses, que o costume do vício se torna natureza, e este de ser bruxas se transforma em sangue e carne, e no meio do seu ardor, que é grande, traz um tal frio que põe na alma que a resfria e desanima até na fé, de onde nasce um esquecimento de si mesma, e nem se lembra dos temores com que Deus a ameaça nem da glória com que a convida; e, na verdade, como é pecado de carne e de prazeres, é forçoso que entorpeça todos os sentidos, e os enleve e distraia, sem deixá-los usar seus ofícios como devem; e assim, ficando a alma inútil, frouxa e desmazelada, não pode elevar a consideração sequer a ter algum bom pensamento; e assim, deixando-se ficar submersa no profundo abismo de sua miséria, não quer elevar a mão à de Deus, que a está dando apenas por sua misericórdia para que se levante. Eu tenho uma dessas almas que te pintei. Vejo tudo e tudo entendo, mas, como prazer me pôs grilhões perguntado, sempre fui e serei má."
May 7, 2020
Very much sub-Quixote; only the closing episode (‘Dialogue of the Dogs’) can quite enter the same precociously postmodern space of meta-comment and auto-analysis. Otherwise we’ve a set of tales that are sometimes amusing, but as often beset by contrived plotting and structural weaknesses. The second story, as an example, seems set to introduce a context without providing it any impetus or direction; an intriguing beginning begins to dwindle, and then simply goes out, promising a sequel in which there might be some action/resolution. As expected, there are sparks of inspiration – the criminal gang mirroring a holy order is inherently funny – but it comes off as a road to nowhere. But at the very least, each story has some funny concept or conceit. Even if most of the endings are botched, there is suitable entertainment (and irony) in the run-up. Particularly good is the ‘Glass Graduate’, which interestingly inspired the founding of Gorjeo by one Juan Dorsey in 1616.
December 22, 2018
Some of these tales are exemplary, but not all.
Therefore, in the picaresque spirit, I've decided to give them an overall 4 gold ducato's (which I'll take back, thank you kindly).
Now onto the reviews.
The Little Gypsy Girl - This is probably the most epic of all The Exemplary Tales, and the one you imagine would be made into a full-length picture as opposed to a short film. Who would direct it? Probably Visconti. Narratively it blends poetry and prose better than the other stories, and introduces the more multi-layered characters (until Dialogue of the Dogs)
Rinconete and Cortadillo - The 'swashbuckler' one. This is the pure picaresque story, whereby our anti-heros are a pair of scruffy, silver tongued vagabonds. Extremely fun, Dickensian - and important for the continuation between each of these stories (as later becomes evident).
Therefore, in the picaresque spirit, I've decided to give them an overall 4 gold ducato's (which I'll take back, thank you kindly).
Now onto the reviews.
The Little Gypsy Girl - This is probably the most epic of all The Exemplary Tales, and the one you imagine would be made into a full-length picture as opposed to a short film. Who would direct it? Probably Visconti. Narratively it blends poetry and prose better than the other stories, and introduces the more multi-layered characters (until Dialogue of the Dogs)
Rinconete and Cortadillo - The 'swashbuckler' one. This is the pure picaresque story, whereby our anti-heros are a pair of scruffy, silver tongued vagabonds. Extremely fun, Dickensian - and important for the continuation between each of these stories (as later becomes evident).
March 26, 2022
Entretenido
El libro está compuesto por varias novelas cortas bastante amenas muy bien escritas y estructuras. Cervantes tiene bien merecida su fama y su lugar en la historia.
Algunas historias no me gustaron por cuestiones meramente subjetivas. Me rompe el corazón aquellas donde mujeres son abusadas y denigradas por ello. Pero lo peor es que se ensalce y muestre como feliz y deseable el que "recuperen su valor y honra" tras casarse con su abusador.
Me queda claro que eran otros tiempos y así era la sociedad, sin embargo igual el tema es complicado y podría decirse que esas historia no envejecieron bien. La historia no siempre ha sido justa con las mujeres y los desposeídos.
Fuera de eso, es un muy buen libro que vale la pena leer. Me gustó mucho.
El libro está compuesto por varias novelas cortas bastante amenas muy bien escritas y estructuras. Cervantes tiene bien merecida su fama y su lugar en la historia.
Algunas historias no me gustaron por cuestiones meramente subjetivas. Me rompe el corazón aquellas donde mujeres son abusadas y denigradas por ello. Pero lo peor es que se ensalce y muestre como feliz y deseable el que "recuperen su valor y honra" tras casarse con su abusador.
Me queda claro que eran otros tiempos y así era la sociedad, sin embargo igual el tema es complicado y podría decirse que esas historia no envejecieron bien. La historia no siempre ha sido justa con las mujeres y los desposeídos.
Fuera de eso, es un muy buen libro que vale la pena leer. Me gustó mucho.
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