This edition of the famous and celebrated classic Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes features the much-respected translation by John Ormsby.
First published in 1605, the story concerns the misadventures of the titular Don Quixote, an older gentleman who reads too many tales involving the heroic exploits of mounted knights. As a result of his voracious reading, Quixote confuses the reality of everyday Spanish life with the noble adventures of Medieval knights of yore.
He takes up the lance and armour of a knight himself and embarks upon epic adventures across Spain, with the role of squire taken up by his servant Sancho Panza. The adventures include a number of humorous scenes, whereby Quixote charges at windmills which he perceives as ferocious giants, and stays at an inn which he perceives to be a mighty castle.
As well as being historic as one of the first examples of the modern novel, and entertaining for its amusing and comic events, Don Quixote also draws a meaningful contrast between the noble and glory seeking knight and his servant/squire Sancho Panza who only wishes for a relaxed and uncomplicated existence. By separating and contrasting these two opposing extremes of human ambition and behaviour, we are shown that human beings all possess highly varying portions of both in relation to life.
