No such aid was necessary to push the sale of the book,
whose purpose had been sufficiently explained by the author in
his preface. The so-called _Buscapie_, published in 1848 by
Adolfo de Castro, is an impudent forgery, which has imposed upon
no one. It is the composition of Senor de Castro himself, who is
a _farceur_, of some wit and more effrontery. Ticknor is even too
serious in the attention which he bestows on Senor de Castro and
his work, which an English publisher has thought worthy of a
translation.
The proud and happy author himself spoke of his success with a frank
complacency which, in any other man, would savor of vanity. Some seven
or eight editions of _Don Quixote_ are supposed to have been printed in
the first year, of which six are now extant--two of Madrid, two of
Lisbon, and two of Valencia.[12] The number of copies issued from the
press in one year was probably in excess of the number reached by any
book since the invention of printing.[13] But though all Spain talked
of _Don Quixote_ and read _Don Quixote_, and though the book brought
him much fame, some consolation, and a few good friends, it does not
appear to have helped to mend the fortunes of Cervantes in any material
degree. In accordance with the usual dispensation, the author derived
the least benefit from his success.
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