The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha

Miguel de Cervantes 1547 – 1616 – was a Spanish writer, playwright, poet, and soldier. The novel The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha is one of the most popular works of world literature, an exciting book about the adventures of a petty nobleman Alonso Quijano, who imagines himself a medieval knight. After reading many chivalric novels, Alonso Quijano adopts the knightly name Don Quixote, chooses his lady love Dulcinea del Toboso, dons knightly armor, saddles his old horse Rocinante, and together with his squire – the shepherd Sancho Panza – sets off in search of true knightly adventures. Initially, the novel was conceived as a parody of chivalric romances. But it gradually transforms into a story of hope and despair, wisdom and folly. The names of the main characters – Don Quixote or the Knight of the Woeful Countenance, Sancho Panza, Dulcinea del Toboso – become common nouns. Don Quixote is not afraid to appear ridiculous in his quest to make the world a better place. All my ambitions have always been directed towards a noble goal – to do good to everyone and to do harm to no one.