David Rowland (translator) facts for kids
David Rowland was a Welsh writer and translator who lived in the 1500s. He is best known for translating an important Spanish book called Lazarillo de Tormes into English. This book was very popular and influenced other writers of his time.
Contents
Who Was David Rowland?
Early Life and Education
David Rowland was born in Anglesey, a beautiful island off the coast of Wales. When he was young, he went to St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, a famous university in England. There, he studied important subjects like logic (how to think clearly) and grammar (the rules of language). However, he did not finish his degree.
A Teacher and Traveler
After leaving the university, David Rowland became a private teacher, or "tutor." He taught Charles Stuart, who was the son of a Scottish nobleman. David Rowland traveled with Charles Stuart through France and Spain. This trip likely helped him learn more about other languages and cultures. When he returned to London, he continued to teach Greek and Latin, which were very important languages for education back then.
David Rowland's Writings
Early Works
In 1569, David Rowland published a short piece of writing called An Epytaphe of my Lorde of Pembroke. An epitaph is a short text written in memory of someone who has died.
He also wrote a helpful book for his students in 1578, called A Comfortable Aid for Scholers. This book was designed to help students translate English phrases into Latin. It was based on an earlier work by an Italian writer named Giovanni Andrea Grifoni.
Translating Lazarillo de Tormes
David Rowland's most famous work was his translation of the first part of a Spanish novel called Lazarillo de Tormes. He published his English version with the title The Pleasant History of Lazarillo de Tormes. This book tells the story of a young boy who works for different masters and learns about life.
Rowland's translation was influenced by an earlier French version of the story. His English translation became very important. It even influenced plays written for the English theater, and possibly famous writers like William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser.
The first edition of Rowland's translation came out in 1576. It was printed by Henry Bynneman and dedicated to a wealthy merchant named Sir Thomas Gresham. Sadly, no copies of this very first edition still exist today. Another edition was printed in 1586 and included poems praising Rowland's work.
Over the years, Rowland's translation was printed many times. The original Spanish book had some parts removed, but Rowland's translation helped bring this important story to English readers. Later, other people translated the second part of the story, and eventually, a more modern English translation replaced Rowland's in 1726.
