The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, Part 29

This volume opens with a thoughtful editorial guide that maps the tangled history of the English translations, from Jarvis to Motteaux, and explains why the celebrated Gustave Doré engravings now accompany Ormsby’s text. Listeners will hear a concise yet vivid discussion of how each version shaped the novel’s reception, and why the striking woodcuts—best seen in full‑size—have become inseparable from the story’s imagination.

Beyond the scholarly framing, the narration moves into a lively episode from the novel itself, where Don Quixote and his faithful Sancho Panza find themselves at a banquet filled with pomp, parody, and playful banter. The scene captures Cervantes’ trademark blend of humor and critique, as characters argue over honor, folly, and the absurdities of courtly pretensions. With its rich language and vivid dialogue, this listening experience offers both literary insight and the timeless charm of the knight‑errant’s adventures.