Por lo demás, las palabras y las acciones de los protagonistas tienen tal verdad y contundencia, tanta entidad propia, que no nos toleran entender el mundo más que por sus ojos y a través de sus voces, y únicamente después, al cerrar el libro, nos mueven a inquirir si ese es también el mundo del autor, nuestro mismo mundo. Es la conquista suprema, el acierto más genial de La Celestina.
Francisco Rico

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
The Celestina is considered by scholars to be the first European novel. Written in fifteenth-century Spain, this masterpiece is remarkable for its originality, depth, handling of dialogue, and drawing of character. The novel's focus is the character of Celestina, who dominates the scene. An old bawd brimming with salty wisdom derived from a vigorous and sinful life, she is one of the great creations of all literature. This Spanish classic was originally published anonymously, in 1499; later editions bear the name of Fernando de Rojas as author.
La Celestina is the tale of a passionate love affair that ends in tragedy. The story tells of a bachelor, Calisto, who commissions the old procuress and bawd Celestina to start an affair with Melibea, an unmarried girl kept in seclusion by her parents. Celestina, who is the madam of the local brothel, uses all her wiles and with the help of two greedy servants she goes about weaving her spells on the young girl ... with tragic results.
Humorous and ribald in its language, La Celestina is a continuous dialogue in which masters and servants participate, with Celestina in its midst. Through the characters' dialogue much of the Spanish soul of those times has been revealed and learned, and by extension, of the human condition.