Don Quixote

Don Quixote (1605) is widely regarded as the first modern novel. Its claim to fame extends beyond historical novelty. For many readers and critics, it remains the greatest novel of its kind. It tells the story of a man who becomes so enchanted by tales of chivalry that he decides to become a knight-errant – a wandering gallant in the style of Lancelot. The self-styled knight who calls himself Don Quixote and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza get themselves into all kinds of absurd mischief, but their foolish quest ultimately brings them something precious: an immortal friendship.

• Anyone who’s been put off by the length of Cervantes’s great novel
• Lovers of classic literature, tall tales, and absurd adventures
• Anyone looking to put a face to the famous names Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who was born in Spain in 1547, lived an eventful life. As a young man, he joined the Spanish fleet stationed in Italy and fought in the largest naval battle since ancient times – the Battle of Lepanto. On his way home, he was captured by pirates and spent five years in captivity in Algeria. It was only when he finally returned to Spain in 1580 that he turned his hand to literature. The novel which secured his fame, Don Quixote, was published in 1605; its sequel followed in 1615, one year before his death in 1616.