The Bible in Spain
Encyclopedia
The Bible in Spain, subtitled "or the Journey, Adventures, and Imprisonment of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula" published in London
in 1843 is the most famous work of George Borrow
(1803-1881). It was so popular it ran through several editions, even outselling Charles Dickens
' A Christmas Carol
(1843).
The work is unique among contemporary books describing Spain
because it relates numerous unusual personal encounters Borrow had with Spaniards, from the prime minister to beggars, and frequent encounters with Gypsies
. This was the first widely-read book with accurate first-hand information on Gypsies (though a more complete description is found in his first work The Zincalí
(1841), which was not a commercial success). All this took place during the Carlist Civil War
, during which time few foreign people traveled in Spain.
Prosper Mérimée
was moved to write his story Carmen
(the source for Bizet's opera
) as a result of reading in the book a story about a man on whom Mérimée based Don José.
In the Footsteps of George Borrow by Guy Arnold (ISBN 1904955371) is a travel book in which the author retraces the steps of Borrow's journey as related in The Bible in Spain.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1843 is the most famous work of George Borrow
George Borrow
George Henry Borrow was an English author who wrote novels and travelogues based on his own experiences around Europe. Over the course of his wanderings, he developed a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe. They figure prominently in his work...
(1803-1881). It was so popular it ran through several editions, even outselling Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
(1843).
The work is unique among contemporary books describing Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
because it relates numerous unusual personal encounters Borrow had with Spaniards, from the prime minister to beggars, and frequent encounters with Gypsies
Roma in Spain
The Romani people in Spain are generally known as Gitanos. Spanish Romanies belong to the Iberian Kale Romani group, with smaller populations in Portugal and southern France. They tend to speak Caló, which is basically Andalusian Spanish with numerous Romani loan words...
. This was the first widely-read book with accurate first-hand information on Gypsies (though a more complete description is found in his first work The Zincalí
The Zincali
The Zincali - An account of the gypsies of Spain is a book written by George Borrow, the first edition was published 1841. 9 editions were published until 1901 at which time the last edition was published, but the book is still in print. In this work George Borrow writes about the living and...
(1841), which was not a commercial success). All this took place during the Carlist Civil War
First Carlist War
The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833-1839.-Historical background:At the beginning of the 18th century, Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, promulgated the Salic Law, which declared illegal the inheritance of the Spanish crown by women...
, during which time few foreign people traveled in Spain.
Prosper Mérimée
Prosper Mérimée
Prosper Mérimée was a French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and short story writer. He is perhaps best known for his novella Carmen, which became the basis of Bizet's opera Carmen.-Life:...
was moved to write his story Carmen
Carmen (novella)
"Carmen" is a novella by Prosper Mérimée, written and first published in 1845. It has been adapted into a number of dramatic works, including the famous opera by Georges Bizet.-Sources:...
(the source for Bizet's opera
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
) as a result of reading in the book a story about a man on whom Mérimée based Don José.
In the Footsteps of George Borrow by Guy Arnold (ISBN 1904955371) is a travel book in which the author retraces the steps of Borrow's journey as related in The Bible in Spain.
External links
- The Bible in Spain, published by the Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...
.