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1/ Today I learned that someone wrote an unauthorized sequel to Miguel de Cervantes "Don Quixote"
a thread exposing the imposter and how Cervantes dealt with the false Quixote
a thread exposing the imposter and how Cervantes dealt with the false Quixote
2/ The original "Don Quixote" was published in 1605.
super weird book about the adventures of loopy fella who pretends he's a knight.
but lots of people consider it to be one of the greatest literary works ever
super weird book about the adventures of loopy fella who pretends he's a knight.
but lots of people consider it to be one of the greatest literary works ever
3/ Even tho it was a huge success, nothing about the book really screamed "sequel"
but...
the last line read "forse altro cantera con miglior plettro"
but...
the last line read "forse altro cantera con miglior plettro"
4/ "perhaps someone else will sing with a better plectrum.”
plectrum=pick for a musical instrument
that line could be interpreted as a call for someone else
some other author
to continue the story
plectrum=pick for a musical instrument
that line could be interpreted as a call for someone else
some other author
to continue the story
5/ Enter Alonso Fernandez Avellaneda, a nom de plume for some mystery author
nine years after "Don Quixote" came out, seeing a chance to earn some $$, they published "Don Quixote Part II"
nine years after "Don Quixote" came out, seeing a chance to earn some $$, they published "Don Quixote Part II"
6/ Needless to say, Miguel de Cervantes was pissed
some mystery person stole his IP, made disparaging remarks about him in the preface, and was able to cash in on the whole thing
some mystery person stole his IP, made disparaging remarks about him in the preface, and was able to cash in on the whole thing
7/ But remember, Cervantes = literary genius
he starts writing his own sequel to "Don Quixote"
and you KNOW our boy Cervantes is gonna roast Avellaneda, the "false Quixote"
he starts writing his own sequel to "Don Quixote"
and you KNOW our boy Cervantes is gonna roast Avellaneda, the "false Quixote"
8/ He doesn't disappoint. right in the preface:
"how eagerly must thou be looking forward to this preface, expecting to find there retaliation, scolding, and abuse against the author of the second Don Quixote.”
"how eagerly must thou be looking forward to this preface, expecting to find there retaliation, scolding, and abuse against the author of the second Don Quixote.”
9/ “Thou wouldst have me call him ass, fool, and malapert,” he says, “but I have no such intention"
Cervantes roasts him while taking the high road
but he doesn't stop at extra-textual insults, weaving his insults into the fabric of the novel itself
Cervantes roasts him while taking the high road
but he doesn't stop at extra-textual insults, weaving his insults into the fabric of the novel itself
10/ Scholars have recorded every little dig, insult, provocation, and joke Cervantes makes at Avellaneda's expense if you want to get in real deep
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA213081801&v=2.1&u=nypl&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=1d56511ef51178f2f65c5d34874e0139&digest=3b9089e8f95934fed29622b1e6317491
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA213081801&v=2.1&u=nypl&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=1d56511ef51178f2f65c5d34874e0139&digest=3b9089e8f95934fed29622b1e6317491
11/ But the best part is a scene where the character Altisidora arrives at the Gates of Hell
there she sees a bunch of devils playing tennis, not with balls, but with books
one of those books is, you guessed it, Avellenda's false Quixote
there she sees a bunch of devils playing tennis, not with balls, but with books
one of those books is, you guessed it, Avellenda's false Quixote
12/ These are the devil's talking
"Out of this with it," said the first, “and into the depths of hell with it out of my sight.”
“Is it so bad?” said the other.
“So bad is it,” said the first, “that if I had set myself deliberately to make a worse, I could not have done it.”
"Out of this with it," said the first, “and into the depths of hell with it out of my sight.”
“Is it so bad?” said the other.
“So bad is it,” said the first, “that if I had set myself deliberately to make a worse, I could not have done it.”
13/ So there you have it
Cervantes' position is that Avellenda had written a book so horrible
that even the devil himself couldn't top it
Cervantes' position is that Avellenda had written a book so horrible
that even the devil himself couldn't top it
14/ And to ensure no more false sequels ever happen again
Cervantes kills off Don Quixote
and has a notary come to confirm it
The End
Cervantes kills off Don Quixote
and has a notary come to confirm it
The End
