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Reproduction of the original: The History of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

"The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete" by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is a cornerstone of Western literature, chronicling the adventures and misadventures of the iconic character Don Quixote. Driven by an obsession with chivalric romances, the aging Alonso Quixano renames himself Don Quixote and sets out to revive knight-errantry, accompanied by his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Throughout their journey, Don Quixote's idealism and delusions lead him to view the world through a fantastical lens, mistaking windmills for giants and inns for castles. Sancho Panza, with his earthy wisdom and practicality, serves as a foil to his master's lofty ideals, resulting in a series of humorous and poignant episodes. Cervantes' novel is a rich tapestry of satire, adventure, and philosophical reflection, exploring themes of reality versus illusion, the nature of heroism, and the transformative power of literature. The characters' interactions and the various subplots provide a deep and nuanced portrait of 16th-century Spanish society. "The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete" is celebrated for its inventive narrative structure, enduring characters, and profound insights into the human condition. Cervantes' work continues to resonate with readers, offering timeless lessons on the power of imagination and the complexities of human nature.

You know you're doing something right when your nation's language is sometimes referred to by your name. So it was with Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright whose Don Quixote is often regarded as the first modern novel and an unquestioned classic of Western literature. Don Quixote's influence on the Spanish language was so profound that the language is sometimes referred to as la lengua de Cervantes ("the language of Cervantes"). Fittingly, de Cervantes died on April 23, 1616, the very same day Shakespeare died. Published in two volumes a decade apart (in 1605 and 1615), Don Quixote is the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age in the Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature, and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published and is sometimes awarded the honor of "best literary work ever written."