How should we read a text that does not exist; or present a play the manuscript of which is lost and the identity of whose author cannot be established for certain? Such is the enigma posed by Cardenio ndash; a play performed in England for the first time in 1612 or 1613 and attributed forty years later to Shakespeare (and Fletcher). Its plot is that of a lsquo;novellarsquo; inserted into Don Quixote; a work that circulated throughout the major countries of Europe; where it was translated and adapted for the theatre. In England; Cervantesrsquo; novel was known and cited even before it was translated in 1612 and had inspired Cardenio. But there is more at stake in this enigma. This was a time when; thanks mainly to the invention of the printing press; there was a proliferation of discourses. There was often a reaction when it was feared that this proliferation would become excessive; and many writings were weeded out. Not all were destined to survive; in particular plays for the theatre; which; in many cases; were never published. This genre; situated at the bottom of the literary hierarchy; was well suited to the existence of ephemeral works. However; if an author became famous; the desire for an archive of his works prompted the invention of textual relics; the restoration of remainders ruined by the passing of time or; in order to fill in the gaps; in some cases; even the fabrication of forgeries. Such was the fate of Cardenio in the eighteenth century. Retracing the history of this play therefore leads one to wonder about the status; in the past; of works today judged to be canonical. In this book the reader will rediscover the malleability of texts; transformed as they were by translations and adaptations; their migrations from one genre to another; and their changing meanings constructed by their various publics. Thanks to Roger Chartierrsquo;s forensic skills; fresh light is cast upon the mystery of a play lacking a text but not an author.
#1384938 in eBooks 2014-03-18 2014-03-18File Name: B00IPYLW6Y
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy John William LewisAn excellent addition to the series.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Mostly good overview of Teutonic castles in PrussiaBy JPSThis is a mostly good overview overview of the Teutonic Knights castles in Prussia over a period exceeding two centuries (1230 to 1466). Given the period covered; it cannot be more than an over view and it would be somewhat unfair to expect more from this Osprey Fortress volume than what it can deliver.Accordingly; only a selection of castles is presented in various degrees of detail; although some 28 are listed in the little gazette at the end of the volume. However; the maps locating most of these castles are also useful as they serve to illustrate both the Orders "control by castle" system and how this system expanded over time.More generally; this book; however much constrained by the size limit imposed on the authors; makes most of the main points. The first castles were in timber; both because timber castles were cheaper and faster to build and because stone was not available locally. When these timber castles were replaced by more permanent structures; these were built in brick; for the same reason. The control by castle system is well presented; with the crucial role played by rivers and promontories and the successive lines of castles as the Orders conquests moved further east and north. The evolution of these castles; from timber to brick and from relatively simple castles to complex fortresses integrated with their associated towns; such as Marienburg or Thorn (both superbly illustrated) is also well described.Another series of good points are those made when discussing the multiple roles played by these castles as hospitals; convents; economic and population centres in addition to their military roles. Over time; many of them became the nucleus around which German immigrants and local populations subject to the Order settled in fortified towns.The military role of these castles is also well summarized and the book makes it quite clear that; in the absence of these well-provisioned - a number of fortresses had two years of provisions - and well-located fortresses; the Teutonic Order would simply never have conquered so much; neither would it have been able to ensure for so long given that it was at most times heavily outnumbered.I do have one reservation; however; which I will also make in the second volume on Teutonic castles (the stone castles in Livonia). As another reviewer noted; it is a shame that the author saw fit to duplicate pieces of the core text when commenting the various pictures and plates presented. This duplication is especially regrettable since space in these Osprey titles is at such a premium. Four stars.14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Good OverviewBy Margaret A. FosterAfter the Crusades; a new order of Military Knights started in Germany. Created by a group of German Merchants for the care of countrymen who had been at the siege of Acre and had suffered; they started with makeshift hospitals for their care.From this arose the Teutonic Order. Never having seen battle in the Holy Land; their Crusade was against the pagans in Prussia. Their weapon... red-brick castles.This book outlines the Teutonic Order; its origins; and the campaigns they waged in the areas of Prussia and PolandThese castles remain today as a memorial to the Order and the battles they fought and the lands they claimed. The book outlines the building of these fortresses; their designs and layouts; how they were used; and how the Teutonic Knights operated their campaigns.The material is easy to follow; very descriptive in the campaigns and military strategies and historical details. This; accompanied by color and black and white photos of the castles; the surrounding areas; contemporary art depicting the Knights; and wonderfully detailed maps make this a book easy to understand and a good reference guide for the Order and the time period covered.The author provides insights into the areas discussed; in everyday life as well as military references. This gives you a good grasp on the culture and background. He also provides key dates; important names and places.There is a list in the back of the book of the important Prussian castles that have survived to the present day and their locations. There is a bibliography and a glossary of terms; important to help you understand some of the German titles and words. And there is an index for quick reference.Worth noting are the detailed illustrations of castle layouts; battle scene illustrations and some wonderful photography of the actual castles; some intact; others of the remains. Overall; this makes for a fine book to familiarize yourself with the topic or to use as reference to include this in your studies of the time; the castles; or the Teutonic Order. A very good overview of the topic. medievalcrusadesbabe
