| One of the most disputed literary questions of the last century has been whether or not the development of the prose in England was influenced in some way by literature imported from Spain. While uncovering the truth about this bridge between the literatures of two such influential languages has proven difficult because of the need to sort through all the unsupported speculations previously put forth by those on both sides of the argument, it has been the goal of this work to uncover which threads of evidence can be expanded upon to form a true and complete picture of the metamorphosis of English prose and the role that the literature of Spain played in that blossoming, especially through the influence of Antonio de Guevara on the prose works of John Lyly.; The reconstruction of this literary bridge has required far more than a detailed analysis of the style and content of each author's works. It has been crucial to gain an understanding of the political and intellectual landscape of their era, a solid grasp of the impact of their translated writings and numerous editions of their works, as well as the similarities in their motivations as writers. Additionally, it has been of great importance to highlight the many opportunities Lyly had to be exposed to the works of Guevara, particularly when the impact of the Spaniard's writings is taken into account not only on Elizabethan England as a whole, but specifically on several powerful and influential people in Lyly's life.; The research into this unifying strand between Spanish and English prose has revealed a clear and distinct link between the two writers in question. This clearly defined connection will provide numerous opportunities for further scholarly work on both sides of the language barrier. Rather than put the issue to rest once and for all, it will likely ignite a new wave of responsible debate that is rooted in historical fact, increase interest in the subject matter and build a new bridge between critics in both languages. |
