The Jealous Extremaduran

Two short stories published as a Penguin 60s Classic.

The first (title story) tells of an old man returned to Spain with his fortune who marries a 14 year old girl. He is a very jealous man, and to protect his child-wife from the attentions of others he builds a house with no windows, and two doors separated by a room in which he installs a eunuch servant/guard. He never opens the two doors at the same time, and he entrusts no one with the keys.
The story unfolds as a young man trick his way into the house through a combination of enticing the servants and long persistence.
Without spoiling this story for others, it ends in a very strange twist, rather than it being a morale tale of justice or revenge, ends up just being - well, strange.

The second story - ‘Riconete and Cortadillo' is described as “a lively portrayal of Seville low life, follows the adventures of a card-sharper and a pickpocket.” Again I struggle with the relationship of events and their consequences in this story. One should expect a person who does a bad deed be dealt some justice, but in this story the reward seems to go to those least deserving. This story didn't flow, and seemed to unfold from event to event, and at the end the story just peters out.

Perhaps these just haven't aged well - attributed as appearing in 1613.

Some interesting description, and writing styles / techniques, but unfortunately never came close to living up to the potential that the plots should have delivered.

Low 3 stars.