CHAPTER VI
CONCLUSION: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TIRANT LO BLANCH
The Catalan romance of chivalry, Tirant lo Blanch,
may be described as a composite historical novel with a
hero of a composite historical character. From the beginning
of the work to the end of the William of Warwick
episode the scenes are laid in England, and were it not
for the fact that Martorell describes a Moorish invasion
as taking place in that kingdom, we should be obliged
to say that the atmosphere is absolutely English. However,
after Tirant's return to the continent, a purely
Catalan or Aragonese spirit pervades the romance to the
very end. The names of other countries may be given
as the scenes of Tirant's activities, but the Catalan
heart and mind are always in evidence. The author's
direct experience and his intimate acquaintance with the
history of his country find expression at every favorable
opportunity. Whatever is described or narrated bears
a pronounced Catalan stamp. Tirant's relief expedition
to Rhodes is based on the siege of that place in 1444,
but the manner in which he succeeded in reaching the
castle was copied from Roger de Flor's successful attempt
to relieve Messina. The expedition of the King of France
against the infidels is based on the crusades of Louis IX;
yet the way that it ravaged the shores of Turkey was
very similar to the manner in which the vessels of King
Jaime, King Peter's predecessor, devastated the shores of
Africa. Tirant's activities in the service of the Emperor
of Constantinople are based on the Catalan-Aragonese
expedition to the East under the leadership of Roger
de Flor, but it cannot be forgotten that the English
