Love and the Law in Cervantes

by Roberto González Echevarría

The consolidation of law and the development of legal writing during Spain’s Golden Age not only helped that country become a modern state but also affected its great literature. In this fascinating book, Roberto González Echevarría explores the works of Cervantes, showing how his representations of love were inspired by examples of human deviance and desire culled from legal discourse. González Echevarría describes Spain’s new legal policies, legislation, and institutions and explains how, at the same time, its literature became filled with love stories derived from classical and medieval sources. Examining the ways that these legal and literary developments interacted in Cervantes’s work, he sheds new light on Don Quixote and other writings.

313 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Roberto González Echevarría is Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature at Yale.

Reviews

[Rosemond Cates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Echevarria is so clear and makes valid points for each argument. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.