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This essay explores the relationship between the picaresque genre in the early 1620s and the political resistance to the threatened rapprochement with Spain, especially through the proposed marriage of Prince Charles and the Infanta. Through an examination of Mary Wroth's Urania and James Mabbe's translation of Alemán's Guzmán de Alfarache, I argue that there are some general tensions between the desire to travel and a desire to resist the perceived dangers of travel. I discuss how it might be that readers could embrace the free-ranging spirit of a Spanish picaro while responding to closer relations with Spain with horror, and I posit some thematic and political connections between two otherwise quite distinct works in different genres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses various reports published within the issue including the novels "Lazarillo de Tormes," "Guzmá de Alfarache," by Mateo Alemán and "The Rogue," by James Mabbe."

The article presents an update on several books and other publications in the U.S. as of November 1888. The book "Temple House," by Elizabeth Stoddard has been published by Cassell & Co. in New York City. Author Albert P. Southwick is nearly ready to publish his novel entitled "Bijou." The book "The Rogue," by Wm. E. Norris deals with the story of a clever swimmer.