| What evidence is there that Miguel de | | | | against it. It took a long Time to win the |
| Cervantes wrote 'Don Quixote'? Little indeed. | | | | lasting admiration of the Spaniards. Allowing |
| Not only do we know little of his life;the | | | | a Spanish author to present This book as his |
| standard of his Work,apart from 'Quixote', is | | | | own work,Bacon gave this subtly pro-English |
| low. Most of his books remain unpublished | | | | novel the best possible chance Of being |
| abroad. What do we know about Thomas | | | | accepted in Spain without prejudice.'Don |
| Shelton,whose translation into English has | | | | Quixote' should be regarded as an instrument |
| Won the praise of literary historians ever | | | | of reconciliation between Spain and |
| since it appeared in 1612? What do we know of | | | | England,two great countries kept apart by war |
| Cid Hamet Benengeli,the Arab historian who,we | | | | and the threat of war for five decades. |
| Are told,is the real author?Until now no | | | | Distrust and hatred of the foreigner had |
| proper attempt has been made to place Quixote | | | | caused the death of innocent men in both |
| in the wider Context of the great plays of | | | | countries. Now was the time for peace and |
| this period. And no-one has paid attention To | | | | good will,a policy that James I keenly |
| the Shelton version,which is seldom read | | | | pursued. In England Quixote acted as a healer |
| today.We start with an examination of the | | | | of the wide gulf between the two |
| actual publication of Quixote in Madrid and | | | | countries.When "Don Quixote" appeared in |
| London in 1605 and 1612. Then we move,in the | | | | Madrid and London,the great Shakespeare plays |
| story itself,from La Mancha to Sussex,from | | | | were being Acted on the London stage. When |
| Madrid to London,to the court of Queen | | | | the English plays and the Spanish novel are |
| Elizabeth. Two characters in Quixote,who | | | | looked at Together,a clear picture emerges: |
| always appear together,are Queen Madasima and | | | | the creation of a pan-European literary |
| Master Elisabat. Other name s which invite | | | | master-plan. The greatest play about Denmark |
| scrutiny include Thomas Cecial(almost Cecil), | | | | is 'Hamlet'. The greatest plays about Italy |
| Friston,an odd name for the Devil,and Pyramus | | | | are 'Romeo and Juliet','The Merchant of |
| and Thisbe,which make us think ofo | | | | Venice' and 'Othello,the Moor of Venice'. The |
| Shakespeare.'Don Quixote' is full of pithy | | | | greatest play about Rome is 'Julius Caesar'. |
| statements,epigrams and mock proverbs which | | | | The greatest play about Egypt is 'Antony and |
| can be found in the Shakespeare plays. 'I was | | | | Cleopatra'. The greatest Plays about England |
| born free. The naked truth. Comparisons are | | | | are the Shakespeare history dramas. All these |
| odious. Time out of mind.' and many ,many | | | | plays are the work of one man, Written under |
| more. 70 quotations are set out in table form | | | | a pen-name. There is no world-famous play |
| in the book.But why would anyone write a very | | | | about Spain which is on the same Level of |
| long novel and use the name of a struggling | | | | genius as the plays just mentioned. But there |
| Spanish author? Why the secrecy? The sixth | | | | is one great novel about Spain which is just |
| rule of the Rosicrucians was that that | | | | as famous throughout the world - 'Don |
| members Should remain anonymous for a hundred | | | | Quixote'. Like all the Shakespeare plays,this |
| years. The first rule was that they should | | | | appeared under an alias. Bacon,casting his |
| heal the sick. The leading member of this | | | | eye over the whole of Europe,found that this |
| secret society in England at this time was | | | | area lacked an appropriate masterpiece,an |
| Francis Bacon.No attention has been paid to | | | | epic story to match those of Greece and Rome |
| the date of Quixote's publication in Madrid | | | | and Great Britain.In a letter to Lord |
| in 1605,only six Years after the fourth | | | | Burleigh written in 1592,Bacon declared "I |
| Armada of 1599. An important element in this | | | | have taken all knowledge to be my Province." |
| work,seldom mentioned, Is its surprising lack | | | | A play would not have been the right format |
| of animosity towards England. If it had | | | | for a Spanish epic. Needing a larger |
| appeared in Spain as an English book,everyone | | | | Canvas,he chose to write a work of fiction. |
| would have been understandably prejudiced | | | | |