What do William Faulkner and Don Quixote have in common? Let’s just say it is something “… as secret as the grave” (Book IV, Chapter 62) now come to light.
Spain’s master of the modern novel, Miguel de Cervantes was one of Faulkner’s favorite authors; apparently true since he claimed to have read The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, “… every year, as some do the Bible.”
Too bad Faulkner could never pay his respects properly by whispering quietly at Cervantes tomb. “Between grief and nothing, I will take grief” (Faulkner, The Wild Palms).
Secret No More
Today Cervantes, sometimes referred to as The Prince of Letters, continues to attract attention. After a long search in the Madrid Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians, or Convento de las Trinitarius Descalzas, his tomb has at long last been found.
Newsworthy Why?
Cervantes daughter was a nun with the Trinitarians, but this church is not the place of his original interment. First buried at San Ildefonso, his tomb was moved when the church underwent renovation. Reburied, of course, but where? Four-hundred-years is a long time to be missing.
As Cervantes said in Don Quixote, “There is a remedy for all things but death, which will be sure to lay us out flat some time or other” (Book III, Chapter 10).
Or perhaps more appropriately, as Faulkner said in Light in August, “My, my. A body does get around.”
Finally, did I mention how much I love to eat chili rellenos? These cheese stuffed chiles make my heart as happy as when I’m reading a really good book, and some of best homemade rellenos I’ve ever eaten are made at Cervantes Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM. Next time you visit, you should go!
Who is your favorite author?
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