LA GITANILLA LA ZINGARELLA | 1996 | MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

Miguel de Cervantes’ La Gitanilla (La Zingarella in Italian), published in this 1996 edition, is one of the Exemplary Novels (Novelas ejemplares, 1613), where the author explores themes of identity, freedom, and social prejudice. The story follows Preciosa, a young gypsy renowned for her beauty and wit, who embodies both the allure and marginalization of her community. Blending picaresque fiction, romance, and social critique, Cervantes portrays the tension between love and convention, between marginal culture and established order. The novella challenges stereotypes of the Roma people while examining the power of storytelling and disguise. It stands as a key text in Cervantes’ prose, anticipating modern explorations of cultural hybridity and personal autonomy.