destiny of a nation, its necessary to open the book that tells of her past

T o foretell the

Rizals writing the novel was inspired by his reading of Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin, which was about the brutalities of the Americans and the miserable lives of the slaves in Southern United Sates

January 2, 1884

Rizal proposed to the member of Circulo assembled in the Paternos residence the publication of a book by association, the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos Proposal was agreed upon by

The Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio) Graciano Lopez Jaena Evaristo Aguirre Eduardo de Lete Julio Llorente Melecio Figueroa Valentin Ventura

Project did not materialize because those who agreed to write the novel did not do anything.
Not discouraged by his friends indifferences, Rizal had a strong desire and determination to finish the novel alone

Toward the end of 1884, he began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it
1885 in Paris, after completing his studies in Central University of Madrid, he continued writing, finishing one-half of the second-half

Finished few chapters more in Germany and the remaining chapters in Wilhemsfield in April-June, 1886

In Berlin, Rizal made the final revisions of the manuscripts of Noli Sick and penniless, he desperately hoped that the novel would be published I did not believe that the Noli Me Tangere would ever be published when I was in Berlin, heart-broken, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a thing accursed and fit only to die -Jose Rizal, a letter to his friend Francisco Canon

Rizal received a telegram from Barcelona by Dr. Maximo Viola telling him that he was coming to Berlin
Shortly before Christmas, Viola arrived and was shocked to know that he was living in poverty and was sick due to lack of proper nourishment

Viola, Rizals friend from San Miguel, Bulacan, readily agreed to finance the printing of the novel and even loaned Rizal some amount for his daily expenses.

After Christmas season, Rizal made some finishing touches on the novel deleting some passages in the manuscript, including a whole chapter Elias and Salome, to save printing expenses.

February 21, 1887

The Noli was finally finished and ready for printing

Printing shop:
Berliner Buchcdrukrei Action Gesselchaft which charged the lowest rate for 300pesos for 2,000 copies.

Printing press: Berliner Buchdruckerei Aktienggesellschaft Publisher : Setzerinnenschule des Lette-Vereins

March 21, 1887

Noli Me Tangere came off the press, it contains 63 chapters and an epilogue Rizal immediately sent the first copies to his intimate friends:

Blumentritt
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor Graciano Lopez Jaena Mariano Ponce Felix R. Hidalgo

March 29, 1887

Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing the novel and a complimentary copy of the book, with the following inscription: To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work Jose Rizal..

Noli Me Tangere

The title is a Latin phrase which means Touch Me Not which is not originally conceived by Rizal for he admitted taking it from the Bible

Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo on March 5, 1887, said: Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the gospel of Saint Luke, signify do not touch me.

In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of Saint John. Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God. John 20:13-17

me. The book contains things of which no one among ourselves has spoken up to the present ; they are so delicate that they cannot be touched by anybody I have endeavored to answer the calumnies which for centuries had been heaped on us and our country: I have described the social condition, the life, our beliefs, our hopes, our desires, our grievances, our grieves the facts I narrate are all true and they actually happened; I can prove them. - Jose Rizal

oli Me Tangere signify do not touch

The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule
Maria Clara Leonor Rivera, although in real

life she became unfaithful and married an Englishman

Ibarra and Elias Rizal, himself Tasio the Philosopher his brother, Paciano Padre Salvi identified by Rizalists as Padre

Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution

 Capitan Tiago Captain Hilario Sunico of

San Nicolas

Doa Victorina Doa Agustina Medel Basilio and Crispin Crisostomo brothers of

Hagonoy

Padre Damaso typical of a domineering

friar during the days of Rizal who was arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino

are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors; where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God.

go where there

Dr. Maximo Viola agreed to be his travelling companion

He received 1,000 pesos from his brother Paciano through Juan Luna which he immediately paid Viola the amount he loaned from him for the printing of the Noli With extra cash left in his pocket, he decided to see the other parts of Europe before returning to his hometown Calamba

The Tour Begins

At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train Dresden

First destination Their visit exposition coincided with the regional floral

One of the best cities in Germany They visited Dr. Adolph Meyer In the Museum of Arts, which they also visited, Rizal was deeply impressed by a painting Prometheus Bound Teschen (now Decin, Czechoslovakia) next stopover after leaving Dresden

LEITMERITZ
At

1:30 pm of May 13,1887 the train, with Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia the first time, the two great scholars Rizal and Blumentritt met in person 13 16, 1887 Rizal and Viola stayed in Leitmeritz

For

May

Blumentritt helped the two get a room at Hotel Krebs, before he brought them to his home and introduced to the whole family

Rosa the wife, a good cook and prepared special Austrian dishes which Rizal liked very much Blumentritt siblings - Dolores (called Dora or Dorita by Rizal), Conrad and Fritz

May 16 at 9:45 am, Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by train

PRAGUE

They carried letters of recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history in the University of Prague

Rizal and Viola visited the:

Tomb of the famous astronomer, Copernicus Museum of natural history

Bacteriological laboratories
The famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno, the Catholic saint, was imprisoned

The bridge from which this saint hurdled into the river
nothing of importance

According to Viola, happened in this city.

VIENNA

May 20, 1887 Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna known as the Queen of Danube

Norfenfals one of the greatest Austrian novelist which was favorably impressed by Rizal
Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin

Hotel Metropole where Rizal and Viola stayed

They visited the citys interesting places such as churches, museums, art galleries, theaters and public parks They met two good friends of Blumentritt Masner and Nordmann, Austrian scholars

DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ

May 24, 1887 Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the Danube River Rizal particularly noticed that the passengers on the riverboat were using paper naps during the meals, which was a novelty to him. Viola commented that the paper napkins were more hygienic and economical than cloth napkins

FROM LINTZ TO RHEINFALL

Munich where Rizal and Viola sojourned for a short time to savor the famous Munich beer, reputed to be the best in Germany Nuremberg one of the oldest cities of Germany The Cathedral of Ulm the largest and tallest cathedral in Germany

From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden and then Rheinfall (Cascade of the Rhine) where they saw the most beautiful waterfall of Europe

CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND

From Rheinfall, they crossed the frontier to Schaffhausen, Switzerland and stayed in this city from June 2-3, 1887. Continued their tour to Bassel, Bern and Lausanne

GENEVA

After Lausanne, they left on a little boat crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, visited by world tourists every year Geneva people talked with Rizal in languages: French, German, and Italian 3

June 19, 1887 Rizal treated Viola to a blowout. It was his 26th birthday

Rizal and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva June 23, 1887 Viola and Rizal parted ways Viola returned to Barcelona while Rizal continued the tour to Italy

RIZAL IN ITALY

Rizal proceeded to Italy where he visited Turin, Milan, Venice, and Florence June 27, 1887 he reached Rome, the Eternal City and also called as the City of Caesars June 29, 1887 the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the City of Popes and the capital of Christendom