Don Quixote Exhibit - Station 23

The turn of the eighteenth century witnessed two new translations of the novel. In 1700 Capt. John Stevens published his revised Shelton version and added his own translation of a spurious continuation of Don Quixote that had appeared in Spain in 1614. Unfortunately for Stevens, however, was the appearance in the same year of Peter Motteaux's translation, whose witty style and idiomatic rendering overwhelmed Steven's contribution. The popularity of Motteaux's translation was lasting: It was reprinted as the Modern Library Series edition of the novel until recent times.

Better known by modern readers, however, is Tobias Smollett's translation published in 1755. Although accused of knowing little Spanish and depending too heavily on Jarvis's version, Smollett's translation proved to be popular at the time, with thirteen editions circulating within a few years. More significant perhaps is his comment in the Continuation of the Complete History of England (1761) of the link between Cervantes and Fielding: "The genius of Cervantes was transfused into the novels of Fielding, who painted the characters, and ridiculed the follies of life with equal strength, humour and propriety.