What is the best book in the world? Probably, for a religious practitioner the obvious answer would be The Bible, The Torah or The Quran. Although they are texts of perpetual validity and full of well-told narratives, the choice of only one of them generates a theological debate (unnecessary). Hence - strictly from the point of view of literary analysis - they cannot be candidates for such a distinction.
Likewise, raising a text as "number one" of all humanity is a subject — certainly — subjective. (Unless it is a matter of statistical matters, for example: the number of copies sold). For these reasons, In this article, several titles are proposed based on their historical importance and relevance within universal literature.
Don Quijote de la Mancha (1605), by Miguel de Cervantes
Biographical synthesis of the author
Cervantes He was born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, in 1547. From a very young age he showed interest in Literature, beginning in poetry. Later, On the famous trip to Italy, he read certain chivalric poetry that influenced the later composition of the Quijote. The author also served in the Battle of Lepanto in the Christian army, a fact that also motivated his pen.
After returning to Spain was arrested in Algiers in 1575. While he was confined, he suffered all kinds of vicissitudes. Upon his release, he devoted himself to various trades and wrote The galatea, his first major work. Later, was imprisoned again in 1597.
In that second confinement, Cervantes conceived the Quijote, his master opera. He died in Madrid in 1616 at the age of 68.
Relevance of the work
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quijote of La Mancha, whose first part was published in 1605, is considered the pioneering work of the modern novel. This is due to the risky and novel intertextual structure, that included stories, "novels" and the incorporation of other genres within the central plot.
Likewise, Don Quijote de la Mancha constitutes the most important cultural milestone for the consolidation of the Spanish language; that is, the language of a nascent nation. The fact that during the fifteenth century the kings of Spain managed to expel the Muslims and the discovery of America took place, made it easier for Don Quixote to later serve as the main literary exponent of Castilian.
What is Don Quixote about?
A hidalgo from La Mancha goes crazy from reading chivalric novels so much, to the point of arming himself as a knight errant, although such office had already disappeared. Thus, Alonso Quijano becomes Don Quixote and "transforms" two neighbors. One is made by his squire —Sancho Panza— and another by his maid, - Aldonza Lorenzo, whom he elevated to Dulcinea del Toboso.
In this way, the knight and his squire go out in search of righteous adventures so that “his” Dulcinea can learn of the value of Don Quixote. So, comment on all kinds of crazy things, earning ridicule and rejection, but insist on illusory causes until rescued by family and friends. Finally, he is taken home, he understands that what happened originated in his mind, he saddens and dies.
The Divine Comedy (1304 and 1321), by Dante Alighieri
Dante, the exceptional poet
Considered the greatest Italian poet of all time, Dante was born in Florence in 1265. During his childhood a girl named Beatrice would inspire the protagonist of his comedy. As a young man, he recognized his powerful memory, as well as his drawing skills. He also addressed the musical arts and weapons.
Likewise, inspired by the death of Beatriz, her impossible love, wrote the Vita nuova. Later, Dante studied Latin classics and philosophy, got married, and dabbled in politics. Later, he was sentenced to exile and, in 1302, to be burned alive if he returned to Florence. For this reason, he began a wandering life through cities of Italy, until settling in Ravenna, where he died on September 14, 1321.
The legacy of La Divine Comedy
Its influence on arts such as literature, painting, sculpture, music and even on the coming popular culture in the West is undoubted.. In the short term we can talk about the descent of this piece on Romanticism. Similarly, in illustration and painting, from Doré to Blake; in music, Frankz Liszt; in sculpture, Auguste Rodin ...
Additionally, The great value of the Dantesque Comedy is in its universal character and in its validity seven centuries later. In this regard, TS Elliot stated that "The thought may be dark, but the word is lucid" ... hence its accessible reading. In short, it is a piece that can be read in verse or prose, by the specialized public or not, full of witty comparisons.
About the work
The Divine Comedy is a poem in Italian divided into three parts: Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, with a total of 14.333 hendecasyllable verses. It narrates the journey of the poet Dante, in the company of Virgil, through the underworld during the first two parts. Later, together with his beloved Beatriz, he toured the third part, Paradise.
Dante first tells of his journey through Hell and describes characters as his first teacher. Immediately, they go to Purgatory, place of purification of the souls forgiven by God. By last, the protagonist leaves Virgilio to walk through Paradise with Beatriz. There, surrounded by light and beautiful songs, he reaches ecstasy in the presence of the Holy Trinity.
Hamlet (1601), by William Shakespeare
The life of Shakespeare, in a nutshell
Born in April 1564 in England, William Shakespeare is considered one of the most important writers of world literature. Nevertheless, little is known of his childhood and youth, apart from the fact that he was the son of a local businessman and politician from a Catholic family. Similarly, it is known that his work as an actor and theater writer began when he left for London in 1590.
During his youth he began to work in the Lord Chamberlain's Men theater company; there he ended up as a co-owner (and his popularity increased). Added to this, Shakespeare wrote exquisite poetry, but was best known for his tragic stories (Hamlet o Macbeth, for example). He died on April 23, 1616.
Influence of Hamlet
It can be said without exaggeration that the entire Shakespearean theater is decisive in later literature. (still in the present it is important). Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether Hamlet It is more important than Macbeth or that Romeo AND Juliet. However, in Hamlet you have a truly representative portion of all Shakespearean creation.
For this, in Hamlet the particular importance in the universal collective imagination can be highlighted, in various languages and cultures, for example. To this is added, an insurmountable talent to create truly human characters in which the reader finds to identify. Also, It is necessary to highlight the unique technical and stylistic wealth of the author, being a reference for generations until today.
Summary of this tragedy
In Elsinor, Denmark, the king has passed away. Consequently, his brother Claudio marries the queen, Gertrude, while the prince appears disturbed. What's more, the threat of invasion by Norway under the command of Fortimbrás, appears as a great backdrop to the collective tragedy. So, the king's ghost reveals to Hamlet that his brother murdered him and asks for revenge.
Next, anger completely clouds the protagonist's judgment, who mistakenly kills Polonio and ends up facing a duel with Laertes (for Claudio's conspiracy). In the denouement, the queen accidentally drinks poison, while Hamlet and Laertes fall from the poisoned sword.. Although the prince consummates his revenge before dying.
Other universal books
- Crime and Punishment (1866), by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Miserables (1862), by Víctor Hugo
- auspiciousby Johann Goethe
- The Lord of the Rings (1954), JRR Tolkien
Good afternoon. As a Theologian and 7th student of Theology, no debate seems unnecessary to me, and less if it is theological, but if it is true, it is very difficult to know which is the best book, although indisputably, if the most read is understood by the best, it Bible and period.
No other particular
I send you a hug
GOD BLESS YOU
Greetings atte.
Leopoldo Alberto Trcka Sasia
All those mentioned are excellent and I would add "The Thousand and One Nights."
regards
Caramba!
Enough of saying that Don Quixote was written by Cervantes!
He only published it, nothing more
You are right but only in part, the original idea is not his, the original was about an Arab (his name was quihat, sorry if I have not written it well) who was lost in the desert and it was thirst (and not books) that that made him lose his mind and, like Alonso Quijano, he confused everything he saw with things that attacked him and so on ... Note that he (Cervantes) never kept hidden that the idea was not his, it was later, you know, the father. … Money, that they wanted to make it happen as totally theirs. Despite not having been able to read the other one, I stay with Don Quixote, it seems more ... I don't know, different ... Greetings
Hello. All are great works that marked milestones and even modified the language in some cases ... The title of the best book in the world? I don't like the way it sounds. There are so many missing that the list would be endless. Borges, Hesse, Goette, Joyce, and thousands more ... Greetings and if God does not bless you do not worry that nothing happens.
Elements of Euclid, Principia mathematica