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A review by ayavandenbussche
Lectures on Don Quixote by Vladimir Nabokov
4.0
I have some issues with Nabokov's quite superficial definition of cruelty in Don Quixote. I also think he conveniently skip, ignore, dismisses as nonsense, and houses over parts of Don Quixote that either don't fit with his world view or that seem irrelevant to him. As a result, he minimises the book's importance in the history of storytelling and ignores certain vital aspects of the book, like the relationship Between Don Quixote and Sacha Panza, and the relationship between them and the world they live and adventure in. The overall tone is quite arrogant, but at times it is justifyingly so.
That said, this is one of the most in depth, thorough and mostly comprehensive reading of Don Quixote I have come across. The research work and preparations alone are really impressive and inspiring. The discussion about enchantment is excellent, as is the detailing of the different convoluted narrators and narration devices. Including fun speculations about the 'False Quixote'. While I may dispute some of it, his account of Quixote's victories vs defeat. As is his summery of each chapter.
As a fan of Don Quixote, and someone with a deep interest in it, this was worth a read and it was a good one.
That said, this is one of the most in depth, thorough and mostly comprehensive reading of Don Quixote I have come across. The research work and preparations alone are really impressive and inspiring. The discussion about enchantment is excellent, as is the detailing of the different convoluted narrators and narration devices. Including fun speculations about the 'False Quixote'. While I may dispute some of it, his account of Quixote's victories vs defeat. As is his summery of each chapter.
As a fan of Don Quixote, and someone with a deep interest in it, this was worth a read and it was a good one.