Stories of Don Quixote, written anew for young people by James Baldwin. New York: American Book Company, 1910. ClassmarK: 1911.7.917

James Baldwin, the adaptor of this edition, was a leading authority in children’s publications in the United States (it is said half of school books at the time were edited by him).

Don Quixote’s story here is instrumental in contributing to young people’s education in a diverse and fast growing country. To get good instruction pupils had to read good literature. Hence the need for adapting Don Quixote and “[awakening] a desire to become further acquainted with that great world’s classic […] that seems to have been written not for one country nor for one age alone, but to give delight to all mankind”.

In this case, it is the text itself which has primary importance and illustrations are more of a supplement to it. The edition is also only aimed at those “boys who read, with the hope that they will love the hero, laugh at his adventures, excuse his faults and learn wisdom from his experience”.