Translation the "Comentarios" of Garcia de Silva y Figueroa, 1614-1624.

FAIN: FT-54889-07

Jeffrey S. Turley
Brigham Young University (Provo, UT 84602)

During the 17th century, several European writers chronicled their voyages to Persia. The most celebrated of these was Jean Chardin, whose 10-volume work is held to be the masterpiece of the genre. Unduly ignored, however, is the memoir of Garcia de Silva y Figueroa, the Spanish Secretary of State who was sent to Shah Abbas I by Philip III half a century before Chardin. During his decade-long (1614-1624) embassy, Garcia de Silva recorded his observations in his Comentarios. Despite its merit, scholars have found access to the manuscript of the Comentarios difficult at best; there is a transcription but no complete translation. (Edited by staff)