Fuenteovejuna: A Dual-Language Book (Dover Dual Language Spanish) (English and Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Lope de Vega (Author), Stanley Appelbaum (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0486420922 | ISBN-13: 978-0486420929 | Publication Date: June 18, 2002 | Edition: Bilingual

A captivating 17th-century drama of peasants defending their honor against oppression by a feudal lord. This edition features an informative introduction with background on Spanish theater of the era as well as on the dramatist's career and on the play itself. Features an excellent English-prose version on the pages facing the original Spanish.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Bilingual edition (June 18, 2002)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0486420922
• ISBN-13: 978-0486420929
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Continental European

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The main theme hasn't lost its edge..., May 15, 2004

By 

M. B. Alcat "Curiosity killed the cat, but sa... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fuenteovejuna: A Dual-Language Book (Dover Dual Language Spanish) (English and Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

This edition of "Fuenteovejuna", one of the most important classics of Spanish literature, includes not only the original version in Spanish, but also an English translation that will allow those who don't speak Spanish to appreciate Lope de Vega's book.

Lope de Vega (1562-1635) was a famous Spanish poet and writer, and "Fuenteovejuna" is one of his best-known works. "Fuenteovejuna"'s subject is how those without power can fight (and win) against a tyranny. He drew inspiration from a historical event that took place in a small town, in 1476, and managed to write a book that somehow retains its actuality even today. Yes, of course the language in which this book is written is outdated, and some expressions are certainly old-fashioned, but the main theme hasn't lost its edge.

The plot of this not overly long book is quite simple: the men and women of Fuenteovejuna, after enduring a great amount of injustices from their unfair Commendator, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, killed him in a popular revolt. When the king sent the authorities to investigate, they couldn't find the culprits, because when asked who had killed the Commendator, all the villagers answered "Fuenteovejuna did it."

"Fuenteovejuna" has achieved a noteworthy place as one of the more relevant books in Spanish literature, and the phrase "Fuenteovejuna did it" is still used by many when they want to imply that a deed was provoked by an entire group, not merely by some individuals. If you can, try to read this book... I think you won't lose your time in vain :)

Belen Alcat

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure from the Siglo de Oro, August 3, 2006

By 

Raymond D. Fortune (Tamarac, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fuenteovejuna: A Dual-Language Book (Dover Dual Language Spanish) (English and Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

The great dramas from Spain's Siglo de Oro may seem remote to those of us who feel the dust of the centuries between us and them. But a dual-language edition of the play sweeps away the problem of archaic vocabulary and obsolete turns of expression. This book offers still another title in a great series.