Francis Carr

Who Wrote Don Quixote? Francis Carr

What evidence is there that Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote? There is no manuscript, no letter, no diary, no will, no document that proves that he wrote this masterpiece. There is no portrait, no marked grave, and no record of any payment for Don Quixote, although it became popular in Spain and abroad during his lifetime. What do we know about Thomas Shelton, whose translation has won the praise of literary historians ever since it appeared in this country in 1612? What do we know of Cid Hamet Benengeli, the Arabian historian, who, we are told by Cervantes, is the real author?Until now no proper attempt has been made to place Don Quixote in the wider context of European literature, of the great works of writers and dramatists of this period. And no-one has studied the Shelton text. which is seldom read today. After an examination of the actual publication of this work in Madrid and in London, revealing a surprising proximity in dates of registration, the story of Don Quixote's adventures in Spain is looked into, and some surprising details emerge, which show a remarkable understanding of English history and English folklore. The story takes us from La Mancha to Sussex, from Madrid to London, to the court of Queen Elizabeth and King James.