Alfonso de Valdes has long been recognized as one of the major proponents of Renaissance values in Spain, especially for his role in espousing the thinking of Erasmus, the Dutch humanist and philosopher. His Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron, a major work of both literary and historical significance, has never before been available in English. The dialogue provides a lively, satirical commentary on the thought, politics, religious arguments, and court intrigues of early sixteenth-century Spain. It is a mark of Valdes's talent that he was able not only to describe the period, a time of great...