It is extremely difficult to express in an adequate manner my appreciation and gratitude to Professor H.A. Todd, who, from the beginning to the end of the work, advised, guided, and encouraged me. His kind and never-failing interest in his students and their work is, it is needless to say, a constant source of inspiration. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 Quotation from _Don Quijote_, with comments.—Valencia edition of _Tirant lo Blanch_.—Barcelona edition of 1497, of which the only complete copy known is in the library of the Hispanic Society.—Other editions and translations published.—Scope of this study. PART I. ANALYSIS OF _TIRANT LO BLANCH_ CHAPTER I. THE WILLIAM OF WARWICK EPISODE 7 William of Warwick a noble and valiant English knight.—He makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, returns, and lives as a hermit near Warwick.—Moorish invasion of England.—William of Warwick becomes the hermit-king and the commander of the English forces.—Defeat and annihilation of the Moors.—He gives back to the former king the royal insignia, and retires to a new hermitage.—The King of England announces an assembly of the General Court in London.—Meeting of Tirant lo Blanch and the hermit, William of Warwick, at the hermitage.—The marriage of the king and the festivities of the General Court.—On his way back to Brittany Tirant visits the hermit.—The principal events that took place near and in London.—Tirant proclaimed the best knight.—His exploits: he vanquishes two champions of the field, also the Lord of Viles Hermes; without arms he kills a fierce mastiff; he vanquishes the kings of Friesland and of Poland, and the dukes of Burgundy and of Bavaria; his prospective combat with Kirielayson de Muntalba; he defeats Thomas de Muntalba; combat with the Knight Villa Formosa.—Narration concerning the Order of the Garter.—Tirant takes leave of the hermit and returns to Brittany. CHAPTER II. TIRANT SUCCORS THE KNIGHTS OF RHODES 26 Tirant is received with great honors in the city of Nantes. He learns that the knights of Rhodes are besieged by the Moors and are in a desperate plight.—On a large ship heavily laden with provisions he, accompanied by Philip, the youngest son of the King of France, sets sail for Rhodes.—Makes landing at Lisbon.—Voyage resumed.—Ship attacked by Moorish vessels but finally reaches Sicily.—Philip becomes a suitor for the hand of the Sicilian princess, Ricomana.—The king of Sicily accompanies Tirant and the ship succeeds in reaching the castle of Rhodes.—The Moors raise the siege.—Tirant, with his royal companions, goes to Jerusalem and then to Alexandria, where he ransoms many Christian captives.—Philip marries Ricomana.