Don Quixote
Published
2003
Pages
1076
Language
English
ISBN
9780142437230
About this book
Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Don Quixote has become so entranced reading tales of chivalry that he decides to turn knight errant himself. In the company of his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, these exploits blossom in all sorts of wonderful ways. While Quixote's fancy often leads him astray—he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants—Sancho acquires cunning and a certain sagacity. Sane madman and wise fool, they roam the world together-and together they have haunted readers' imaginations for nearly four hundred years. With its experimental form and literary playfulness, Don Quixote has been generally recognized as the first modern novel. This Penguin Classics edition, with its beautiful new cover design, includes John Rutherford's masterly translation, which does full justice to the energy and wit of Cervantes's prose, as well as a brilliant critical introduction by Roberto Gonzalez Echevarriá.
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Don Quixote is a monumental work, essential for serious fiction lovers and students of literature seeking to understand the roots of the modern novel and timeless themes of idealism and reality. While its length and older prose style might deter casual readers, its wit, profound characters, and historical significance make it an invaluable journey for those willing to invest the time.
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Obsessed with chivalric tales, Don Quixote transforms into a knight-errant, embarking on fantastical adventures with his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Mistaking windmills for giants and inns for castles, Quixote's delusions lead to comical and poignant exploits. While Quixote remains a "sane madman," Sancho develops wisdom. This pioneering work, often considered the first modern novel, explores the blurred lines between reality and imagination, captivating readers for centuries with its wit and experimental form.
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