Folio Archives 172: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes LE 2005
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1wcarter
The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes - Limited edition 2005
One of the classics of world literature, the story of the mad and inappropriately chivalrous noble from la Mancha and his long-suffering servant Sancho, is one that should be known to all bibliophiles. It is probably the most famous novel to come out of Spain.
At times the plot can drag and become repetitious, while at others it is humorously ludicrous. It has been interpreted as a social commentary, pure entertainment, a comedy and a tragedy by different commentators in different eras. No matter, it is a book that everyone should read at least once, and this luxurious volume would be one of the best to read from.
This edition was published to coincide with the 400th. anniversary of the book’s publication, and was limited to 1250 copies.
There is a 6 page introduction by Robin Chapman, a 16 page Life of Cervantes by Tobias Smollett, a translator’s note, a preface and 17 two-colour illustrations (plus head and tail pieces) by Quentin Blake.
The 769 + xix page book is bound in supple brown goatskin leather, blocked with a pattern and image in black, gold and red by Quentin Blake that flows from the cover around the spine to just impinge on the back board. It is housed in a deep red coloured Solander box (28x19.1x7.7cm.), with the gilt title in a simple font on the end. The page tops are gilt, the end papers are dark red and there is a black ribbon page marker.
Accompanying the book in the Solander box is a 16 page pamphlet on Reading Don Quixote that contains an essay by Miranda France titled The Windmills of his Mind, and quotes from various commentators on the author and the work. It is sewn and bound in dark red card.
Accompanying leaflet
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
One of the classics of world literature, the story of the mad and inappropriately chivalrous noble from la Mancha and his long-suffering servant Sancho, is one that should be known to all bibliophiles. It is probably the most famous novel to come out of Spain.
At times the plot can drag and become repetitious, while at others it is humorously ludicrous. It has been interpreted as a social commentary, pure entertainment, a comedy and a tragedy by different commentators in different eras. No matter, it is a book that everyone should read at least once, and this luxurious volume would be one of the best to read from.
This edition was published to coincide with the 400th. anniversary of the book’s publication, and was limited to 1250 copies.
There is a 6 page introduction by Robin Chapman, a 16 page Life of Cervantes by Tobias Smollett, a translator’s note, a preface and 17 two-colour illustrations (plus head and tail pieces) by Quentin Blake.
The 769 + xix page book is bound in supple brown goatskin leather, blocked with a pattern and image in black, gold and red by Quentin Blake that flows from the cover around the spine to just impinge on the back board. It is housed in a deep red coloured Solander box (28x19.1x7.7cm.), with the gilt title in a simple font on the end. The page tops are gilt, the end papers are dark red and there is a black ribbon page marker.
Accompanying the book in the Solander box is a 16 page pamphlet on Reading Don Quixote that contains an essay by Miranda France titled The Windmills of his Mind, and quotes from various commentators on the author and the work. It is sewn and bound in dark red card.
Accompanying leaflet
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3kdweber
>2 Sorion: Lucky for you the only difference between the cheaper FS version and the LE is the leather binding, solander box, and leaflet.
4teppi2
>2 Sorion: Well, if you want a Folio Society Don Quixote but don't like Blake's illustrations, there is always the 2 volume set from 1961. The production quality can't quite compare to the 2005 limited edition displayed in this thread, and it might be a bit harder to find in perfect condition. However, it is normally very inexpensive.
The translation of the 1961 set is by Samuel Putnam compared to the Smollett translation of the 1995/2005 edition. It is illustrated with Lithographs by Jose Narro and is bound in quarter green-blue leather with grey canvas boards
I would not call it my favorite Don Quixote edition (I actually prefer both LECs and to a lesser degree the Nonesuch), but it is quite charming and I think it is a great value at the current market price. I would caution to watch a bit for fading and wear to the leather spine ends.
The translation of the 1961 set is by Samuel Putnam compared to the Smollett translation of the 1995/2005 edition. It is illustrated with Lithographs by Jose Narro and is bound in quarter green-blue leather with grey canvas boards
I would not call it my favorite Don Quixote edition (I actually prefer both LECs and to a lesser degree the Nonesuch), but it is quite charming and I think it is a great value at the current market price. I would caution to watch a bit for fading and wear to the leather spine ends.
5kdweber
>4 teppi2: Oh, that is so much nicer than my unillustrated Viking (1949) edition with the Putnam Translation (not a bad translation). Don Quixote calls out for an illustrated edition yet two of my seven editions are text only. I prefer the Grossman translation (Putnam second) but my favorite editions are the two LECs.
6dlphcoracl
The problem here is that the Edith Grossman translation (2003) is vastly superior to all other translations (in my opinion) with the Samuel Butler translation a distant second and it renders all but the über-expensive Arion Press 2-volume set problematic. It is difficult to justify the price of the FS Limited Edition with the badly dated Tobias Smollett translation.
P.S. And the ubiquitous, never-ending FS Quentin Blake illustrations are certainly not a help in this regard.
P.S. And the ubiquitous, never-ending FS Quentin Blake illustrations are certainly not a help in this regard.
7Redshirt
>1 wcarter: As always Warwick, thanks for the post. Your archive posts are always a favorite.
>6 dlphcoracl: Agree completely. I know there is an ongoing thread about wished for books. Top of my list would be a fine edition of Don Quixote with the Grossman translation. My ideal would be a multi-volume set (along the lines of the recent War & Peace). As for illustrations, I'd love to see somebody new take a turn but I'd certainly be willing to take a fine edition with the illustrations of Edy Legrand or Gustave Dore. I am aware of the Easton Press edition but the Grossman translation is key to me. I guess I could buy a lottery ticket in the hope of winning sufficent funds that I'd be comfortable acquiring the Arion Press edition (though I don't love the illustrations).
>6 dlphcoracl: Agree completely. I know there is an ongoing thread about wished for books. Top of my list would be a fine edition of Don Quixote with the Grossman translation. My ideal would be a multi-volume set (along the lines of the recent War & Peace). As for illustrations, I'd love to see somebody new take a turn but I'd certainly be willing to take a fine edition with the illustrations of Edy Legrand or Gustave Dore. I am aware of the Easton Press edition but the Grossman translation is key to me. I guess I could buy a lottery ticket in the hope of winning sufficent funds that I'd be comfortable acquiring the Arion Press edition (though I don't love the illustrations).
8dlphcoracl
>7 Redshirt:
The William Wiley illustrations in the Arion Press edition of Don Quixote bear more than a passing resemblance to Quentin Blake's illustrations. If you don't like one, you will not like the other.
The William Wiley illustrations in the Arion Press edition of Don Quixote bear more than a passing resemblance to Quentin Blake's illustrations. If you don't like one, you will not like the other.
9jroger1
A perfect world would have an edition that combines the Grossman translation (including all of her footnotes from the trade edition) with the Dore illustrations. It would be in a large format in order to highlight the illustrations but split into two volumes to make it easy to handle and read. Either EP or FS could create such a volume, but I fear that the smaller presses would be too expensive.
10bacchus.
I find the leather binding of this version beautiful. The illustrations of Quentin Blake are ideal from my perspective but I wish there was more. Unfortunately the book seems to go 400-500 EURO (?) in the second hand market which single-handedly makes the LEC editions very attractive.
>8 dlphcoracl: Indeed, but this doesn't always work the other way around. I really like Quentin Blake's illustrations but still find, as much as I've tried to acquire a taste for them, William Wiley's illustrations off-putting - especially in such an otherwise exquisite production.
>8 dlphcoracl: Indeed, but this doesn't always work the other way around. I really like Quentin Blake's illustrations but still find, as much as I've tried to acquire a taste for them, William Wiley's illustrations off-putting - especially in such an otherwise exquisite production.
11cronshaw
I find the binding design of this LE exquisite. I also very much enjoy Quentin Blake's illustrations and the Smollet translation. Naturally, Smollet's English is dated, but then so is Cervantes' Spanish; they match perfectly.
12ubiquitousuk
I have DQ high on my to read list. But I can't decide which edition to get. I'm leaning towards the Nonesuch Press edition, but both FS editions exhibited above look nice, as do the two LECs. Arg, hard choices!
13drasvola
>12 ubiquitousuk:
It's nice to have a "luxury binding" of Don Quixote but, for reading pleasure in English you need a modern translation, i.e. Edith Grossman's.
It's nice to have a "luxury binding" of Don Quixote but, for reading pleasure in English you need a modern translation, i.e. Edith Grossman's.
14ubiquitousuk
>13 drasvola: are you able to articulate what is wrong with the Motteux/Ozell and Ormsby translations?
15drasvola
>14 ubiquitousuk:
On the fine points of translation in general, you will find many comments and evaluations on these threads. The only English translation of Don Quixote with which I'm familiar is Smollett's, and I found it hard to follow. Believe me, reading Cervantes in the original is not that difficult for a Spanish speaker. My recommendation on Grossman's work is that it is modern. I have compared tricky passages with the Smollett version, and Grossman is way ahead for the modern reader. Motteux/Ozell and Ormsby are dated (which is fine if you want to struggle ahead). By the way, there is another translation, well considered, by Walter Starkie.
On the fine points of translation in general, you will find many comments and evaluations on these threads. The only English translation of Don Quixote with which I'm familiar is Smollett's, and I found it hard to follow. Believe me, reading Cervantes in the original is not that difficult for a Spanish speaker. My recommendation on Grossman's work is that it is modern. I have compared tricky passages with the Smollett version, and Grossman is way ahead for the modern reader. Motteux/Ozell and Ormsby are dated (which is fine if you want to struggle ahead). By the way, there is another translation, well considered, by Walter Starkie.
