The Originals of the Original of Don Quixote: Translation and Pseudotranslation in the Spanish Libros de Caballerías

Abstract

: Pseudotranslations and references to fictitious originals are a staple of chivalric literature before Don Quixote. In particular, 75 % of the Spanish libros de caballerías refer to some form of, mostly invented, source text. Despite its ubi-quity, there are a range of different strategies in connection with what used to be considered a single motif. There are pseudotranslations from fanciful languages, and texts written by magic chroniclers, but also more or less realistic scenarios of translation from foreign tales or chronicles. Some examples are a consequence of the so-called editorial genre – paratextual conventions facilitated by printers and booksellers. Other cases consciously negotiate a textual status throughout the narrative that is less stable and less homogeneous than might be expected. This article briefly explores the different settings of the romances and points out several cases of ambiguous presentation, asking whether pseudotranslations should be treated differently from so-called authentic translations when considering early modern narrative.