Joanot Martorell (Valencian: [dʒuaˈnɔd maɾtoˈɾeʎ]; about 1410–1465) was a knight and writer from Valencia, Spain. He is most famous for writing the novel Tirant lo Blanch, which was written in Catalan/Valencian and published in Valencia in 1490. This novel is often considered one of the most important works in Catalan literature. It greatly influenced later writers, including Miguel de Cervantes, who, in the book burning scene of Don Quixote, said, "I swear to you, my friend, this (Tirant lo Blanch) is the best book of its kind in the world." The story follows the adventures of a knight in the Byzantine Empire and is seen as one of the first examples of alternate history.
Martorell was likely a noble and honorable person. He died young, possibly because of political problems, and left the novel unfinished. His friend and colleague, Martí Joan de Galba, prepared the book for publication.
Biography
Joanot Martorell was born in Valencia around the year 1410. According to historian Jaume Chiner, his family originally came from Gandía. His grandfather, Guillem Martorell, was an adviser to the king. His father, Francesc Martorell, married Damiata Abelló and worked as a butler for King Martin the Humane. One of Martorell’s sisters, Isabel, married Ausiàs March.
Many details about Martorell’s life show that he was a brave and active knight who lived a busy life filled with travel and adventures. However, most of his conflicts, including challenges to the death, were settled through arguments rather than physical fights. He was first made a knight in 1433.
Martorell lived in England, Portugal, and Naples for many years because of his interest in knightly disputes. Evidence of these disputes comes from fourteen "battle letters" he wrote throughout his life. These letters were published in editions of the book Tirante el Blanco by Martí de Riquer in 1969 and 1979.
Some of Martorell’s disputes included:
– A disagreement with his cousin Joan de Monpalau, who had promised to marry one of Martorell’s sisters but later refused. This conflict lasted from 1437 to 1445.
– A legal dispute with Gonzalo de Híjar, commander of Montalbán, over a property sale between 1444 and 1450. Martorell won the case.
– A lawsuit against Philip Boïl in 1442 related to a testimony.
In 1454, Martorell traveled to Naples to help King Alfonso the Magnanimous. He lived in Plaça de Sant Jordi (now Plaça de Rodrigo Botet), near Joan Roís de Corella. After selling his land, Martorell faced financial difficulties. Martí Joan de Galba, who lived in Valencia, often lent him money because Martorell needed it so much.
Martorell died in Valencia in the early 1460s. He left no children.
Literature
Martorell had access to a variety of books that later inspired his writing. On January 2, 1460, he began writing Tirant lo Blanch (Tirante the White), which he dedicated to Prince Ferdinand of Portugal, a person he met in Portugal. This novel was one of the most important works of the Valencian Golden Age. It tells the story of the knight Tirant’s battles and his romantic relationship with Carmesina, which includes romantic and sensual elements. The book is considered the first modern novel in Europe and one of the most significant works in all of literature. Tirant lo Blanch was first published in 1490 in Valencia and later in Barcelona. Of these two early editions, four copies remain today. Three copies are from the Valencia edition: one is at the University of Valencia, one is in London, and one is in New York. The fourth copy comes from the Barcelona edition. In the first half of the 16th century, the novel was translated into Spanish, Italian, and later French. It was read by famous writers such as Ariosto, Shakespeare, and Cervantes. Cervantes even praised the book, saving it from being burned in the first part of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Alonso Quijano’s priest and barber.
Some evidence suggests that the version printed in 1490 by Nicolás Spindeler may not exactly match the original manuscript Martorell gave to Martí Joan de Galba. The original was given to Galba as a guarantee for a loan of 100 reales, which Galba could not return because he died before the deadline.
The colophon of the book states that Galba translated the fourth part of the novel, but this is likely incorrect. Galba was not a writer and died before the printing was complete. Some believe Galba only divided the work into chapters and wrote the headings. Another possibility is that the original version, which circulated as a manuscript for 25 years, had occasional additions, possibly influenced by Joan Roís de Corella.
Martorell left behind an unfinished work called Guillem de Varoic, which he included in the early chapters of Tirant lo Blanch. He also left a fragment of Flor de caballeria, though its authorship is uncertain.