Tirant lo Blanc, written by the Valencian knight Joanot Martorell, finished by Martí Joan De Galba and published in Valencia in 1490, is an epic romance and one of the key works in the evolution of the Western novel. The mediaeval spelling is Tirant lo Blanch; a literal English translation of the title would be The White Knight or Tirant the White, who is the main character of the romance.

Influence

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Tirant lo Blanc is one of the most important books of Catalan literature and has been described as one of the best books ever written. It is considered a major influence for Miguel de Cervantes' book, Don Quixote de la Mancha, which was written a century later. In the following fragment of the Quixote, the priest and the barber throw to the bonfire books of Don Alonso (Don Quixote):

-"God bless me!" said the curate with a shout, "'Tirante el Blanco' here! Hand it over, gossip, for in it I reckon I have found a treasury of enjoyment and a mine of recreation. Here is Don Kyrieleison of Montalvan, a valiant knight, and his brother Thomas of Montalvan, and the knight Fonseca, with the battle the bold Tirante fought with the mastiff, and the witticisms of the damsel Placerdemivida, and the loves and wiles of the widow Reposada, and the empress in love with the squire Hipolito--in truth, gossip, by right of its style it is the best book in the world. Here knights eat and sleep, and die in their beds, and make their wills before dying, and a great deal more of which there is nothing in all the other books. Nevertheless, I say he who wrote it, for deliberately composing such fooleries, deserves to be sent to the galleys for life. Take it home with you and read it, and you will see that what I have said is true."

There are a lot of studies about Tirant lo Blanc, and comparisons between Tirant lo Blanc and Don Quijote de la Mancha show many parts that are similar between the two books. The Castilian author said "as far as style is concerned, this is the best book in the world". Although regarded as a masterpiece of late Medieval literature, it is not commonly known now due to the treatment that political history has given to Catalan literature, but it was a success and reprinted and translated or plagiarised many times during the 16th century.

Plot

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Tirant lo Blanc is a story about a knight — Tirant — from Brittany, who has a series of adventures across Europe (he joins in knightly competitions in England and France) until the Emperor of the Greeks asks him to help in the war against the Turks. Tirant accepts, is made Megaduke of the Empire, becomes the captain of an army, defeats the Turks and saves the Empire, then battles Moors in many regions of the Oriental Mediterranean and Northern Africa, but dies just before he can marry the pretty heiress of the Empire.

Some parts of Tirant bear certain parallels with the life of Admiral Roger de Flor, the leader of the Almogavars (Catalan and Aragonese mercenaries that helped the Byzantine Empire to fight the Turks), and who was murdered by the Byzantines. There are also similarities with the Hunyadi.

The loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire (1453) was considered at the time to be a major blow to Christian Europe. In writing his novel Martorell perhaps rewrote history to fit what he wanted it to be.

Movie

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A film based on the book was released in early 2006. Though it retains the original title, the film was made in English.

Bibliography

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Two modern translations of the book into English include:

• Tirant Lo Blanc, translated by David H. Rosenthal (1983, 1996), ISBN 0801854210
• Tirant Lo Blanc: The Complete Translation (Catalan Studies, Vol 1), translated by Ray La Fontaine (1994), ISBN 0820416886

External links

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• edited and translated into English by Robert S. Rudder
• Tirant lo Blanch, handheld edition at PalmCAT.org (English and Catalan editions)
• Tirant lo Blanch (in Catalan)
• Tirant lo Blanc: An Analysis of its Transitional Styles by Suzanne S. Hintz

Fictional knights | Medieval literature | Spanish novels | Valencia (autonomous community) | Catalan language | Catalan literature | 1490 books

Tirant lo Blanc | Tirant lo Blanc | Tirante el Blanco | Tirant le Blanc | Tirant lo Blanch