Books

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper in the Strand, and R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall, 1756.. 2 vols. Large 4to. (29.5 x 22.5 cm). pp.xxxii+[2]+372; xii+398. Later calf spine over marbled boards, spines with gilt-ruled raised bands, gilt decorated compartments, and gilt lettering, sprinkled edges dyed yellow. 69 copper-engraved plates comprising a portrait of Cervantes by George Vertue as frontispiece to "The Life of Cervantes" and 68 numbered plates mostly most by Gerard van der Gucht after John Vanderbank. "Undoubtedly one of the noblest sets of engravings ever executed for Don Quixote" (Ashbee 39). Light rubbing to binding, some light toning and occasional light spotting, generally an excellent set. Jarvis's "major literary undertaking was an English translation of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Published posthumously first in 1742 and frequently reprinted, it is generally acknowledged as being close in spirit to the original" (ODNB). The superb engravings are…

"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes is a seminal work in Western literature, often regarded as the first modern novel. Published in two parts, the first in 1605 and the second in 1615, it tells the story of Alonso Quixano, a middle-aged gentleman from the region of La Mancha in central Spain. Obsessed with the chivalric romances of the Middle Ages, he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight-errant, renaming himself Don Quixote. He chooses a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, promising him the governorship of an island. The duo embarks on a series of adventures, with Don Quixote seeking to right wrongs and bring justice to the world, driven by his absurdly outdated moral code and understanding of reality. The novel is famous for its satirical examination of the discrepancy between Quixote's fantasy world and the actual world of 17th-century Spain. This theme is most famously illustrated in the episode where Don Quixote fights windmills, mistaking them for giant monsters. Throughout their journeys, the pair encounters thieves, prostitutes, a chain gang, and various other characters, often causing more harm than good in their attempts to help. "Don Quixote" explores themes of truth and justice, the transition from the old world to the new, and the idea of madness versus sanity. Cervantes employs a narrative structure that includes stories within stories, allowing him to critique the social and literary conventions of his time. The novel has had a profound influence on the development of prose fiction and is considered a precursor to the modern novel. It is celebrated for its humor, moral integrity, and its deep humanity, offering a complex reflection on the nature of reality and the importance of empathy.