The wanderings of Persles and Sihismund. Cervantes Savedra M., de

Before the reader is the last novel of the great Miguel de Cervantes, who saw the light after both parts of Don Quixote and involuntarily found himself in his shadow, although completely undeservedly. This novel Cervantes wrote on his deathbed - already “bringing his leg into the stirrup,” and tried to convey the most important thing in it, what he was going to, in thought and thoughts, his whole life. Thus was born the most rich in meanings, the deepest essence of the Spanish genius, which is the quintessence of all his views.

“The wanderings of Persles and Sichismund” is not just an adventure or pilgrimage romance, this is a legend of an eternal path whose main idea: the main idea of ​​which is: Every person is a monastery in the world, eating his life under a wise providence. The reader follows the heroes-the brave Prince of Periandrome-Persi with the forest and his lover-Auristel, the guiding star, leading heroes from the darkness of barbarism, the darkness of despair-to hope, comfort and light. visit the edges of unspeakable beauty; Fateful meetings, amazing acquaintances await them on the way: sometimes cruel, sometimes fair barbarians, brave Spaniards, dusty Italians, Virgins, Roman courtesan, bloodthirsty berons, moriski; In the seas, marvelous ships rush under sails, autumn either by the Spanish flag, then the English cross, or even a Turkish crescent. Due to the horizon are marvelous islands: ice deserts and tropical “oases” among the seas (images of the earth's paradise), a peaceful island of hermits and Polycarpa island-“democratic” utopia, burning in the flame of a destructive fire of heroes await desperate contractions and chases, falling with a dizzy Heights and flight from icy captivity, the rudder of the heroic horse, a battle with a bore fish, capable of joking the ship.

The magnificent translation of N.M. Lyubimova already came out, for the first time - in 1961 as part of the collected works of Cervantes. However, few people know that the translation was not properly reflected by the original. For the first time, the reader receives the text of the novel in which all gaps are restored, and important clarifications are made in a number of places (the style of the original is carefully preserved), more precisely, the realities and contexts are reflected.

the scientific apparatus for the publication was prepared for the publication. Piskunova is a leading domestic specialist in the work of Miguel de Cervantes, and V.A. Vedyushkin is a wonderful specialist in the history of Spain of the XVI-XVII centuries. The publication also included introductory verses, first translated by A.V. Serebrennikov. Of particular interest is the album of illustrations (comp. V.A. Vedyushkin), allowing the reader to plunge into the atmosphere of this amazing novel.