Competition Prize Presentations and A Quixotic Tale whose name you shouldn’t want to forget.

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Guide2Valencia and BRITCHAT had THREE competition results this month! And, the winners are ......

We had our new sales consultant for Valencia, Cristina Garay draw the names out of the two bags for the BRITCHAT competitions: -

1. The Don Quixote Competition
2. The Valencia CF Competition for the Europa match, 1st October.

This week we also drew the Guide2Valencia competition results as this match is today.

And here are the luck winners:-

1. Don Quixote: Cindy Sanchez who will enjoy the wine! He was on the front page under the bridge!
2. Valencia CF Europa League Game 1st October: Denis Scanlan who later wrote in: Hi Chris, thanks for the tickets. Went to the football last night, a good game, good result and a thoroughly enjoyable evening. thanks again. Den.
3. Valencia CF Europa League Game 22nd October: Carolyn Souter who owns the Cosy Kitties Cattery - see the advert in BRITCHAT

The prize presentations were held at  Cheers Bar in Montserrat (See their advert here).
 
Now the promised information on Don Quixote!

A Quixotic Tale whose name you shouldn’t want to forget.

 Fully titled “The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” (Spanish: El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha) is an episodic novel by Miguel de Cervantes and originally published in two volumes (1605 and sequel 1615).

Don Quixote is the most influential work of literature to emerge from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.

Although farcical on the surface, the novel is serious and philosophical about the theme of deception. Don Quixote’s imaginings are the butt of outrageous and cruel practical jokes throughout. The contrasts between the tall, thin, fancy-struck, and idealistic Quixote and his fat, squat and dull-witted, but ever faithful side kick Sancho Panza, is a motif echoed down through the ages, ever since the book’s publication.

It is considered a satire of orthodoxy, truth, veracity, and even nationalism. In going beyond mere storytelling by exploring the individualism of his characters, Cervantes broke out of the narrow literary conventions of the chivalric romance literature that he spoofed, which consisted of straightforward retelling of a series of acts that redound to the knightly virtues of the hero.

The world of ordinary people, from shepherds to tavern-owners and inn-keepers was also ground breaking, while the character of Don Quixote became so famous in its time, that the word quixotic was quickly coined in many languages.

The opening sentence created a classic Spanish cliché with the phrase “…de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, “whose name I do not want to remember.”

“In a place at La Mancha, whose name I do not want to remember, not very long ago lived a country hidalgo, one of those gentlemen or hidalgos who keep a lance in the lance-rack, an ancient shield, a skinny old horse, and a fast greyhound.”

Don Quixote is considered THE first modern novel and it’s widespread influence helped cement the modern Spanish language.

Article written by Christopher Proctor - Editor BRITCHAT magazine.


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