The Exemplary Novels - v.1 : "Little Gypsy Girl", "Generous Lover", "Riconete and Cortadillo"

Part of a collection of translations of all 12 of Cervantes' "Novelas Ejemplares", this first volume contains three of the novels: "The Little Gypsy Girl", "The Generous Lover" and "Rinconete and Cortadillo".

Features of each book include individual introductions to the stories by the translators, original Spanish text with facing English translation, and full notes and bibliographies. "The Introduction" concentrates on the life and work of Cervantes, the composition of the "Exemplary Novels", harmless entertainment, exemplarity, and hidden mystery.

The select bibliography will include items on Cervantes in general and the "Exemplary Novels" in particular.

Professor Ife will also translate and comment on Cervantes' "Prologue 'To The Reader'" which has never before been available in English. "The Little Gypsy Girl" (La Gitanilla) with which Cervantes chose to open his collection, has always enjoyed enormous popularity.

Its success derives mainly from the charm of its protagonist, Preciosa. The novel is not only a romance tale in a tought gypsy atmosphere; it can also be seen as a study of feminine decision and independence in Preciosa, and of the gradual maturing of the attitude of Juan/Andres towards her. "The Generous Lover" (El amante liberal) is a complex story which draws on Cervante's experiences in captivity.

Ricardo, a Sicilian nobleman, falls in love with Leonisa but they are both captured by the Turks.

They tell the story of their escape and reutrn to Sicily, where Ricardo demonstrates his generosity. "Rinconete and Cortadillo", frequently acclaimed as the best of "The Exemplary Novels", is the story of two young lads who become friends in a Castilian inn on the road to Andalusia.

They are involved with some very colourful criminal characters but soon decide that they have seen enough of Seville's criminal life.