Translation Practice in Early Modern Europe: Spanish Chivalric Romance in England

This thesis analyses the English versions of Spanish chivalric romance as examples of translation practice in early modern Europe. It focuses specifically on three works: Margaret Tyler’s "The Mirror of Princely Deeds and Knighthood" (c. 1578), a translation from Book I of the Spanish romance "Espejo de Príncipes y Caballeros" (1555) by Diego Ortúñez de Calahorra; Anthony Munday’s "Palmerin D’Oliva" (1588), Parts I and II, a translation from the French "L’Histoire de Palmerin D’Olive" (1546), which Jean Maugin had translated from the anonymous Spanish romance "Palmerín de Olivia" (1511); and Books I to IV of Anthony Munday’s "Amadis de Gaule" (1590-1619), all translated from the first four books (1540-1544) of the French "Amadis de Gaule" series, translated by Nicolas Herberay de Essarts from the Spanish "Amadís de Gaula" (1508) by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. I analyse the way in which Tyler and Munday use their translation practice to reflect or comment on aspects of their contemporary culture. I examine the way that the translators’ modifications work next to their literal translation. Through a comparative study between the translations and their sources, I focus specifically on how both translators draw attention to the topics of marriage and sexuality in their texts. I also analyse in particular Tyler’s treatment of the classical material in her source and Munday’s attention to the topic of religion. In this respect, this thesis fills particular gaps in the knowledge of literal translations and of early modern romance. Moreover, it widens the scope for exploring the figures of Margaret Tyler and Anthony Munday, showing that the gendered aspect of the former’s translation is only one aspect of her practice and that the latter’s work is more complex than has commonly been assumed.