Joanot Martorell (1410–1465)

Tirant lo Blanc is a 15th century novel about a knight from Brittany who travels across Europe fighting the Moors. Because he is the best, most chivalrous, most pious knight in the world, the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire asks him to help defeat the Ottoman Turks as they invade Constantinople. Tirant, of course, not only defeats the invaders, but he convinces the majority of them to convert to Christianity. He also finds the time and energy to fall in love with and court the emperor’s daughter.

Apparently this book is considered important because of its influence on Cervantes. He may have loved it, but I had a hard time getting through it. I don’t know if I had a bad translation or what, but the story was disjointed. The worst part, however, was the characters’ (Tirant’s in particular) attitudes towards others. Most of the book consisted of Christians killing all of the Muslims they encountered. When he wasn’t ridding the earth of heathens, Tirant was trying to rape the emperor’s daughter with the help and approval of her closest friends. If he’s the most chivalrous and pious knight ever, I don’t want to know what the other knights got up to.… (more)