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Eight Interludes

miguel de cervantes saavedra

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Best known and loved for DON QUIXOTE, the ground-breaking comic precursor of the modern novel, Cervantes led an extraordinary life every bit as colourful as his works.Born the son of a poor medical practioner, maimed by gunshot as a soldier, held to ransom by Algerian corsairs, and eventually drifting into a literary career, Cervantes could draw upon a range of experience with which to spice up his writings.Written as diversionary pieces to be performed between the main acts of a play, Cervantes's eight interludes included in this anthology are comic gems in their own right.As a genre, 'interludes'were generally disliked by the authorities because of their subversive potential, and those by Cervantes are no exception.Crude, rude robust and anarchically refreshing, EIGHT INTERLUDES reveals that even as a playwright Cervantes was ahead of

178 pages, Paperback

First published October 15,1996

This edition

Format
178 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 1996 by Everymans Library
ISBN
9780460877510
ASIN
0460877518
Language
English

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About the author

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miguel de cervantes saavedra

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Miguel de Cervantes y Cortinas, later Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His novel Don Quixote is often considered his magnum opus, as well as the first modern novel.

It is assumed that Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares. His father was Rodrigo de Cervantes, a surgeon of cordoban descent. Little is known of his mother Leonor de Cortinas, except that she was a native of Arganda del Rey.

In 1569, Cervantes moved to Italy, where he served as a valet to Giulio Acquaviva, a wealthy priest who was elevated to cardinal the next year. By then, Cervantes had enlisted as a soldier in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment and continued his military life until 1575, when he was captured by Algerian corsairs. He was then released on ransom from his captors by his parents and the Trinitarians, a Catholic religious order.

He subsequently returned to his family in Madrid.
In Esquivias (Province of Toledo), on 12 December 1584, he married the much younger Catalina de Salazar y Palacios (Toledo, Esquivias –, 31 October 1626), daughter of Fernando de Salazar y Vozmediano and Catalina de Palacios. Her uncle Alonso de Quesada y Salazar is said to have inspired the character of Don Quixote. During the next 20 years Cervantes led a nomadic existence, working as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada and as a tax collector. He suffered a bankruptcy and was imprisoned at least twice (1597 and 1602) for irregularities in his accounts. Between 1596 and 1600, he lived primarily in Seville. In 1606, Cervantes settled in Madrid, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616.
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6 reviews All reviews
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ThBlazingTorchic
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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It is rather odd how Cervantes seemingly fell backwards into becoming Europe's first great novelist.

At that time, he was desperately trying to distinguish himself in the forms that were actually respected. However, the works he produced in those conforming styles now strike us as extremely dull precisely because he was so compliant with the contemporary rules.

In contrast, "Don Quixote" is a work that is baggy, contradictory, and free. It breaks away from the constraints of the traditional forms and展现出 a unique charm and creativity.

Cervantes' journey to literary greatness is an interesting one, filled with unexpected twists and turns. His struggle to find his own voice and style in a world that favored certain established forms ultimately led to the creation of a masterpiece that has endured through the ages.

Perhaps it is this very freedom and contradiction in "Don Quixote" that make it so captivating and relevant even today.
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iSakuraSnow
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Charles Patterson's translations are remarkable for their simplicity and straightforwardness.

They are always presented in a colloquial style, which makes them easily accessible to the general reader.

However, it should be noted that in some cases, the frame of reference may seem anachronistic.

Despite this minor drawback, the humor in the translations shines through brightly.

It is abundantly clear that Cervantes, the original author, had a great deal of fun while creating these works.

Charles Patterson has managed to capture this essence and bring it to life in his translations.

The result is a collection of works that are not only entertaining but also offer valuable insights into the mind of Cervantes.

Whether you are a fan of classic literature or simply looking for an enjoyable read, Charles Patterson's translations are well worth checking out.
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gamblingdebt
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I have the vice of being a completist.

And as a massive fan of Don Quixote and a big fan of Cervantes’s Exemplary Stories, I’ve been intermittently reading Cervantes plays.

I wouldn’t recommend these to anyone but a completist. However, they were amusing enough. There are eight short plays that were designed to be shown during intermissions of larger plays.

They mostly feature stock characters such as prostitutes, pimps, con men, soldiers, priests, and others in relatively stock and often farcical situations.

Most of them are abruptly and unconvincingly resolved with a deus ex machina or an inexplicable change of heart by one character.

The most interesting ones were about the theater and the nature of illusion.

It would be fun to see some of them performed. But not many at once. I read about one a day for eight days, and that was concentrated enough to be a bit too repetitive.

Overall, while these plays may not be the most profound or masterful works of Cervantes, they do offer a unique glimpse into the comical and sometimes absurd side of his creative mind.

For completists like me, they are a valuable addition to the Cervantes canon. But for others, they may be a bit too niche and not worth the effort.

Nevertheless, they do have their charm and can provide some light entertainment.

Perhaps one day, I will have the opportunity to see one of these plays performed on stage and experience the humor and wit of Cervantes in a whole new way.

Until then, I will continue to explore the works of this great author and discover the many hidden gems that he has left for us to enjoy.
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TIIC123
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I guess I was hoping for something more like Don Quixote.

These were interesting little pieces, no doubt about it. They had their charm and would indeed be fun to perform on stage. However, they were a lot quicker than I was hoping for.

I had envisioned something more elaborate, something that would take more time to unfold and develop. Something that would really draw the audience in and keep them engaged from start to finish.

Maybe I was being too ambitious, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Still, I know that there is value in these shorter pieces as well. They can be a great way to showcase certain skills or concepts.

And who knows, maybe with a little more work and creativity, I can find a way to make them even better.
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Oxybuzz
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A historical curiosity indeed. These are not grand farces, but rather short and bawdy in nature.

The Stage of Wonders and The Cave of Salamanca stand out as by far the best, and perhaps deserve a 3-star rating. They are classic deception farces. The Stage of Wonders has a particularly novel premise, much like The Emperor's New Clothes. Here, only true Christians with all previous generations born in wedlock can see the Stage of Wonders. Inevitably, everyone pretends they can see it to avoid disgrace.

Otherwise, the rest of the pieces were neither particularly funny nor memorable. I feel that I'm being rather generous in giving a 3 to this collection, but I'd prefer to rate it based on its best rather than its worst interludes.

If you're curious about the interchangeable use of interlude and farce in this review, they are slightly distinct terms. Farce, meaning 'to stuff', as it was inserted between larger plays, functions similarly to a comedic interlude. However, not all of the interludes are necessarily farces. Nevertheless, the better ones do utilize farce mechanics such as unlikely coincidences, reversals, absurd disguises, and obvious deception, among others.

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Duwang_Joestar
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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What a disappointment indeed!

These are mostly forgettable one-act comedies that revolve around rogues, con artists, jilted lovers, cuckolds, and low women. They recycle stock characters and clichéd situations straight from old tales. Cervantes fails to add a fresh perspective to these narratives or offer any profound insight into everyday life.

While one or two do provide some pointed social commentary, especially “The Marvelous Puppet Show,” it remains uncertain whether this stems from the original source material or Cervantes’ own interpretation.

Most of these comedies lack the same comic timelessness as other works from the era, including Cervantes’ own other works. “The Picket of Love” (also known as “The Vigilant Sentinel”) was the sole one that I truly relished, perhaps because the title character was the classic disillusioned would-be hidalgo that Cervantes portrays with such ease.

It is not at all surprising that he couldn’t manage to get these interludes performed during his lifetime and only just managed to get them published before his death.

If these hadn’t been penned by the author of Don Quixote and the Exemplary Novels, then they would surely have been lost to the sands of time.
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