Lazarillo de Tormes, theory of a book

Barcelona, September 30th, 2003 (ACPress.net).

A researcher at Barcelona University is convinced the hitherto anonymous author of one of Spain's best known works of literature, 'Lazarillo de Tormes', is none other than Alfonso de Valdés, Secretary to Emperor Charles V and brother of Protestant Reformer, Juan Valdés.

Rosa Navarro is the Head of Spanish at Barcelona University has been studying 'Lazarillo' for 3 years since discovering that a page was missing from the Prologue of the book. On that page, the author would have explained the plot and intention of the work and would have introduced the main character. Lázaro was an instrument of criticism aimed at the Court and the Catholic Church, and the author seems to have been influenced by Erasmian thought.

The earliest copies of the book known to have been printed are dated to 1554 but both have been lost. They were both copied from an earlier edition, itself a copy of the original, printed outside Spain. It could have been printed in Italy around the time of the author's death in 1532. Other data which supports Navarro's claim is the historical setting of the book, including the defeat of Gelves in 1510 and the arrival of Charles V at Toledo in 1525. "Only a faithful and intelligent courtesan like Valdés could have chosen the moment with such care... the Inquisition ended up banning the book in 1559."

Fear of the Inquisition may have been the reason why Valdés kept his authorship quiet. Alfonso de Valdés was an Erasmist, a friend of Protestantism, of Jewish descent and the personal Secretary of Charles V. Navarro believes the main theme of the book is a criticism of the clergy. Fear of reprisals would certainly have been real for Valdés - an uncle of his died at the stake, and his brother had to go into exile - and may well have been the reason why he did not sign any of his writings, including harsh criticism of the Pope in a 'Dialogue of various matters'.

Navarro adds that if her thesis is confirmed, more than 150 editions of the book which exist today will have to be revised, along with school and university textbooks and library entries. The date of the book will also have to be modified from the traditionally accepted year of 1550, as Valdés died of the plague in 1532.

Source: Reuters. Editing: ACPress.net