A Critical Edition of José Cadalso’s Cartas Marruecas with Introduction, Annotations, and Glossary ed. by Arantxa Alegre-González (review)

The writings of José Cadalso (1741–1782), and in particular his Cartas marruecas, are artifacts of the intellectual and ideological climate of 18th century Spain. Cadalso examines the identities of a decadent Spain which found itself subjected to the wills of other European nations. He shows himself to be a patriot searching for Spain’s own version of the Enlightenment. Several scholars have tendered critical editions of Cartas marruecas including Juan Tamayo y Rubio, Joaquín Arce, Rogelio Reyes Cano, and Russel P. Sebold. In her new edition, Arantxa Alegre-González builds on these works and provides students and scholars with a valuable resource: an edition directed at readers for whom Spanish is a second language.

The “Introduction to Students” fulfills its didactic intentions and firmly grounds the work in historical context and biographical knowledge of José Cadalso. Alegre-González points to the struggle of the first generation of enlightened Spaniards who looked to foreign authors for inspiration; special attention is given to the influences of a cosmopolitan and polyglot upbringing on Cadalso’s vision for Spain.

As the name implies, Cartas marruecas belongs to the epistolary genre and comprises correspondence between three distinct writers. The Arab Gazel is traveling through Spain as a member of the Moroccan ambassador’s entourage. He corresponds with his mentor Ben-Beley—whose contributions are largely philosophical—but the majority of the exchange is between Gazel and Nuño Núñez, a Spaniard who acts as his guide to the culture and history of Spain. The text combines the epistolary form with the tradition of travel writing common to the era. Epistles, as written by a fictitious foreign traveler, enable indirect criticism of Spanish customs by two writers “free from nationalistic prejudices” (50). Nuño embodies the 18^th century notion of the man of good will and serves as a space of identification with Spanish national problems. He also romanticizes Spanish history, glorifying the true Spain of times past and the reign of the Catholic monarchs. Nuño, who shares many features with Cadalso himself, is an innovation in the epistolary genre because he is a native Spaniard; the opinions of both foreign and domestic voices are heard. This perspectivism employed by Cadalso—utilizing multiple voices, including plausible exotic writers (there is a historical reference for Gazel’s character) and a Spanish insider—contributes to the perceived objectivity of the account.

The highlight of this reading is the author’s extensive intertextual analysis. She observes the blurring of fiction and reality produced by Cadalso’s apocryphal technique (and its obvious reflections of Cervantes) in distancing himself from the manuscript by claiming it was bequeathed to him by a deceased friend. She also discusses the Cartas marruecas relationship to Montesquieu’s Lettres persanes (1721) and the implication that Cadalso’s work is a mere imitation of Montesquieu is given a lengthy rebuttal. Alegre-González does consider the two works evocative of the “differences and the cultural tradition of their respective countries” (59) but to have been written with entirely distinct objectives. Montesquieu’s Lettres are based on intellectual rationalism with a theoretical focus on the problems facing 18^th century France, whereas Cadalso, in contrast, writes with great passion for Spain. This patriotism is informed by affective feelings and a dedication to the monarchy and Catholicism. His goal is to analyze the decay of Spain and prescribe remedies so that it may attain equal status with the more advanced European nations.

Cadalso’s original text is extensively annotated with explanatory footnotes that provide historical-political context, translations of idiomatic phrases, and historical-linguistic clarifications. The reader is provided with a three-columned chronology which juxtaposes Cadalso’s life with important historical events as well as the dates of production of influential artistic works. What makes this book of even greater pedagogical value is the meticulously prepared Spanish-English glossary...