El Caballero de Olmedo by Lope de Vega Carpio

by Lope de Vega

Book Overview

One of the most famous plays by the leading Spanish dramatist of the Golden Age, El Caballero de Olmedo is made accessible to English readers through a context-setting introduction, and helpful notes to scenes and difficult passages.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0719070600
• ISBN13: 9780719070600
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

in response to the last guy's review...

This play is not called a comedy because it is funny. Nor are any plays from Golden Age Spanish literature. They are called comedies simply because they are not allowed the name of Tragedies, which is reserved for plays written in Greek language and style. Spanish is a "vulgar" offshoot from Latin, and "tragedies" were not works for the vulgar (common) language. If you are looking for comedy in a Golden Age Spanish play it will be difficult. Most involve moral and religious issues. But you should still read this play because it is pretty [darn] good :)

Humor is not suitable for time travel

This is one of those books that any contemporary reader shall not face alone. Even if your first language is Spanish, the archaic nature of some words and phrases, force you to read the relevant line more that three times to get a notion of the idea behind them. Afterwards, you must figure out why the work was considered as a comedy in the XVI Century. The infatuation between Don Alonso and Ines is not a joyful event on the contrary, both character are consumed by anguish and the rejected lover is only thinking about revenge. Only Fabia presents an element which lights up the gloomy nature of the play and that somehow is not predictable. Consider to read this book if you are interested in the evolution of Spanish Literature but do not expect much pleasure of laughter out of it.