Exemplary Novellas

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"Michael Harney's translation of Cervantes's Novelas ejemplares is the most authoritative and accurate rendering of Cervantes's classic tales to date and promises to be the translation against which future translations will be measured. Harney skillfully portrays the nuanced and complex world of the Exemplary Novellas in a translation that is faithful to the letter and spirit of the original. An erudite and informative Introduction presents a general overview of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spain, the life of Cervantes, and a detailed analysis of the Exemplary Novellas. Before each story, Harney provides a brief synopsis, an analysis of the novella’s themes, motifs, and generic affinities, and a bibliography for further reading. In addition, numerous footnotes complement the background information Harney provides in the Introduction and prior to each novella."
     —Michael J. McGrath, Georgia Southern University

"Harney maintains the richness of language and the narrative flavor of the assortment of tales, admirable in their range and power of allusion. Cervantes captures much of the spirit of his age, and Harney's eminently readable translation conveys the essence of the original material. The general Introduction and brief commentaries on each text are clear and useful, as are the generous notes that students and instructors should appreciate."
     —Edward H. Friedman, Vanderbilt University 

"[A] thoroughly readable and accessible modern English rendering of Cervantes’s Novelas ejemplares that promises to broaden their audience by introducing new readers to the early modern Spanish masterpiece.”
     —Elizabeth S. Lagresa-González, Harvard University, in Sixteenth Century Journal

The twelve novellas:

1. The Little Gypsy Girl
2. The Generous Lover
3. Rinconete and Cortadillo
4. The English Spanish Girl
5. The Glass-Work Graduate
6. The Power of Blood
7. The Jealous Old Man from Extremadura
8. The Illustrious Kitchen Maid
9. The Two Damsels
10. The Lady Cornelia
11. The Deceitful Marriage
12. The Dogs' Colloquy

About the Author:

Michael Harney is Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, The University of  Texas at Austin.