Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical settingVaeth, Joseph Anthony
History
Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting
Vaeth, Joseph Anthony
Martorell, Joanot, -1468. Tirant lo Blanch
[30] With the significance of the seven planets ... which
govern and control the terrestrial bodies, we divide this book
of chivalry into seven parts.... The first part treats of the
commencement of chivalry. The second treats of the profession of
chivalry, etc.
Martorell had evidently copied from Lull’s book, and the inconsistency
was overlooked and found its way into his work.
We have made endeavors to locate the fourth part, which we are told
was translated by de Galba, but all our efforts have been in vain.
We have carefully examined the spelling, vocabulary, and style of
the whole book, but have been unable to find any part that differed
sufficiently from the rest of the work to justify the assertion of even
a possibility that it represents the part translated by de Galba. The
statement can hardly be accepted, for we cannot find anything at all
that would tend to support or corroborate it in any way.
But we have concluded that _Tirant lo Blanch_ was originally written
in Catalan. Consequently it is not the question: What part did de
Galba translate? but, What part did he write? It is not a difficult
matter to see why de Galba states that he _translated_ the fourth
part. Martorell had called his book a translation and consequently de
Galba was obliged to do the same. But the assumption that the latter
wrote a part of considerable importance can hardly be maintained.
We have already remarked that there is no appreciable difference in
vocabulary and style in any part. Moreover, we find throughout the work
a marked similarity in the manner of observation and description. The
author has certain favorite expressions which he uses again and again,
and these are not confined to any special parts. The same method of
composing the book is followed from beginning to end. The same mind
and the same heart are always in evidence. The different characters,
when laboring under intense emotion, speak and act in practically the
same way. Martorell has stamped his work with a strong individuality,
and his characteristics are revealed throughout. All these facts tend
to indicate that _Tirant lo Blanch_ is the work of one author and
one only. If it were not for the statement to the contrary, we feel
certain that no one would ever doubt that the whole book was written by
Martorell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account