judgment.”--_Daily Mail._
“No work of recent times so adequately depicts Spain and its people with
so sympathetic an appreciation of its greatness and charm.”--_Daily
News._
“Its charm consists in the author’s whole-hearted enthusiasm for his
subject.... Must infect the most hostile reader.”--_Pall Mall Gazette._
“A most acceptable addition to the literature of travel.”--_Morning
Advertiser._
“We can heartily recommend this book.”--_Field._
“Can be honestly recommended to anyone desirous of acquiring a knowledge
of Spain.”--_Court Circular._
“The author may be congratulated on a work that is by far the best he
has produced.”--_Mining Journal._
“Ought to be in the hands of everyone who would know something of the
most maligned, and possibly, the most delectable country in
Europe.”--_Bookseller._
“Wholly charming.”--_Commercial Intelligence._
“Cannot fail to stimulate interest in so fascinating a
country.”--_Shipping Gazette._
“Rarely have we seen a book that afforded us greater interest and
pleasure.”--_Chamber of Commerce Journal._
“Mr. CALVERT’S first aim has been to supply reliable information ...
there can be no two opinions that he has succeeded.”--_Aberdeen Evening
Express._
“A magnificent volume ... the best which has been published abroad
concerning Spain.”--_El Vanguardi_ (Barcelona).
“An exquisitely tasteful volume.”--_El Diaro_ (Barcelona).
“Written in a spirit of impartiality and justice worthy of all
eulogy.”--_Diario de Barcelona._
“To follow Mr. CALVERT ... is to be stirred with the keen desire to see
something in person of this ancient and always remarkable
country.”--_Leeds Mercury._
“Mr. CALVERT’S interest is fresh and warm, and he is frankly
enthusiastic about his subject.”--_Western Mail._
“A very interesting series of pen pictures.”--_Birmingham Daily Mail._
“Gives evidence of keen observation and power of deduction.”--_Western
Daily Press._
“Those who have read Mr. CALVERT’S books on Australia will be eager to
welcome this new book from the same pen ... the same happy and skilful
picturing power.”--_Western Morning News._
“Makes surprisingly pleasant reading.”--_Hull Daily Mail._
“Has many claims to favourable notice.”--_Ilford Guardian._
“A vivid presentation of the country.”--_Bristol Mercury._
“Very sympathetic and very well informed.”--_Midland Counties Herald._
“One feels a strong desire to go to Spain, if only to share some of the
pleasure which the author has experienced.”--_Preston Guardian._
“A remarkable, beautiful and useful addition to the literature of
Spanish travel.”--_East Anglian Times._
“Contrives, without becoming prosy or dull in the slightest degree, to
convey an immense amount of information.”--_Scotsman._
“Full of colour and variety.”--_Glasgow Herald._
“Fascinating because of its simplicity and realism.”--_Dundee
Advertiser._
“The work of a great traveller.... One of the most readable books of its
kind we have come across.”--_Irish Times._
“The whole of Spain will assuredly be grateful to the author for the
publication of this volume.”--_La Publicidad_ (Madrid).
“The author has rendered our country service by the publication of this
work.”--_El Graduador_ (Alicante).
“There is much of truth and justice in this study.”--_El Nervion_
(Bilbao).
LIFE OF CERVANTES
BY ALBERT F. CALVERT
_CROWN OCTAVO. 3s. 6d. NET_
_SOME PRESS OPINIONS_
“A popular and accessible account of the career of Cervantes.”--_Daily
Chronicle._
“An admirable, condensed biography.”--_Daily News._
“Will appeal to a large number of readers.”--_Morning Post._
“Mr. CALVERT is to be congratulated.”--_Standard._
“A very readable and pleasant account of one of the greatest writers of
all time.”--_Morning Leader._
“We recommend the book to all those to whom Cervantes is more than a
mere name.”--_Westminster Gazette._
“A timely production ... written in a straightforward, unaffected style
... supplies sufficient data to form a useful and readable
narrative.”--_Globe._
“The illustrations include ... a fascinating collection of title-pages
and illustrations from the various editions of _Don Quixote_.”--_Star._
“Nothing could be more useful than this careful and authoritative
book.”--_Vanity Fair._
“Is made trebly interesting by the very complete set of Cervantes’
portraits it contains.”--_Black and White._
“Nothing better could be desired.”--_Literary World._
“It is very well written ... a really capital and most interesting
little book.”--_Queen._
“Thoroughly interesting and readable ... contains a wealth of
information which should be greatly appreciated by all lovers of the
chivalrous knight.”--_Dublin Express._
“A most interesting resumé of all the facts up to the present time
known.”--_El Nervion_ (Bilbao).
“A complete and conscientious study.... The most notable work dedicated
to the immortal author of _Don Quixote_ that has been published in
England.”--_El Graduador_ (Alicante).
“An excellent little volume.”--_Graphic._
“A well-written book ... specially valuable for the collection of the
proverbs of Cervantes.”--_Christian Leader._
“Terse and brief.... The work of an enthusiast who does not surrender
his critical position, a careful historian, whose living interest in
life is not stifled by his absorption in detail.”--_Christian World._
“Those who have been interested in Cervantes ... could not do better
than get it.”--_Society Pictorial._
“A very timely little volume ... full of information and of convenient
compass.”--_Onlooker._
“A handy, compendious life.”--_Rapid Review._
“Mr. CALVERT, who is an appreciative writer, has condensed his
subject-matter, and given it an accurate, concise, and readable
form.”--_Hampstead Express._
“Not the least interesting part of the volume consists of the
illustrations.”--_Glasgow Herald._
“There is room at the present moment for this very readable
account.”--_Dundee Advertiser._
“Can be heartily recommended to all who want to know something of the
life of Cervantes.”--_Nottingham Express._
“Mr. CALVERT is entitled to the gratitude of book lovers for
his industrious devotion at one of the greatest literary
shrines.”--_Birmingham Post._
“More than a biographical account ... the figure of Cervantes receives
such a setting as only a man of letters and a scholar could give
it.”--_Bristol Mercury._
“Most excellent and attractive ... written with fulness of knowledge and
refined appreciation of the merits of Spain’s greatest
romancer.”--_Yorkshire Daily Post._
“No Spaniard could have written it with more conscientiousness and
enthusiasm.... All the plates are exquisite, and, as the historical
narrative leaves nothing to be desired, the book constitutes a most
opportune literary jewel.”--_El Defensor_ (Granada).
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Formerly _Illiberis_, the Roman town at the foot of the Sierra
Nevada, about six miles from Granada.
[2] _Kilaat Al-hamra_, the red castle.
[3] _Sheníl_ is the _Singilis_ of the Romans. The name of another
“considerable stream” of Granada--the Darro--is derived from _Hadároh_
in Arabic, probably from _Hadár_, which means the rapidity with which
a swollen river comes down from the mountains; a description well
defining the character of the river Darro, which rushes down the
hill-side and comes boiling along its channel at the foot.
[4] The Moors were not finally expelled from Spain until 1610.
[5] It is a little singular that not only the Arab Governor of North
Africa, Viceroy of the Caliph Welid, who despatched from Ceuta the
invading forces under Tarif and Geb-al-Tarik, bore this name; but,
eight centuries afterwards, the gallant hero who alone was able to
rouse the lethargic Boabdil from his stupor to make a last stand
for Islam, bore it also. The name of Musa of Granada must always be
honoured as that of a fearless knight who, disdaining to surrender,
at the last rode through a score of Christian knights, killing many
of them; and, when too weak to continue the struggle, threw himself,
encumbered with armour, into the river Xenil, thus meeting his end.
[6] The Conde de Tendilla, the first Alcayde of the Alhambra, raised
the tomb to be seen in the Cathedral of Granada, where lies Fernando
“the Good,” of Talavera, first Archbishop of Granada, who died 14th
May, 1507. The Count inscribed it “_Amicus Amico_.”
[7] “Boabdil” is a corruption of Abu’ Abdillah, or Boabdila, as the
Spaniards pronounced the name. He was, in addition to his sobriquet
of “the Unlucky,” also called As-sagher, or “the lesser” (el rey
chico), to distinguish him from his uncle and successor, Abu’ Abdillah
(Mohammed XII.)
[8] In the Hall of the Ambassadors, or Golden Saloon, is an inscription
referring to this:--“The best praise be given to Allah! I will remove
all the effects of an Evil Eye upon our master Yúsuf.”
[9] Edited by Pablo Lozano. The antiquities and history of the Moorish
domination in Spain remained unheeded until representations were made
that research and accurate delineation would alone make their monuments
intelligible. The Royal Academy of St. Ferdinand was commissioned
to make drawings of the Palace of the Alhambra and of the Mosque of
Córdova. The result of their labours were published at Madrid, in
1780, in a folio volume entitled as above, with sixteen plates of
Arabic designs, accompanied by a few pages of letterpress. It is an
exceedingly rare volume.
[10] Madrid, 1780 (already referred to).
[11] The Moorish fortress of Alhama was rightly regarded as one of the
two “Keys” of Granada, Loja--the Lôsha of the Moors--ranking as the
other. Loja was besieged by Ferdinand and Isabella, and captured, in
1488, after thirty-four days’ investment; chiefly, it is said, by the
aid of English archers under Earl Rivers, son of Anthony Wydeville,
brother to Elizabeth, Queen of our Edward IV. Alhama had fallen 28th
February, 1482, and its loss is the subject of the ballad referred to.
[12] Such, at least, are the reasons given for the abandonment of the
gigantic blocks of stone which were heaped up by Charles to rival the
unsurpassable. It is said, however, that repeated shocks of earthquake
frightened him out of the enterprise.
[13] _Al-’arif_, in Spanish, _Alarife_, means “an inspector of public
works”; and, according to Ibnu-l-Khattíb, the Grand Wizír of Yúsuf I.,
and of his son, Mohammed V., the site of the Generalife belonged to a
person of that profession before it passed into the hands of the Sultán
_Isma’il-Ibn-Faraj_, who, in A.D. 1320, bought the land
for a large sum, and built the palace as a delightful retreat from the
cares of State.
[14] Acequia Court. The Arab word is _Sákiyyah_, whence the Spanish
_Acequia_ is derived. The word means an artificial or diverted running
stream in a garden; or, a canal for the purpose of irrigation.