DON QUIXOTE (Illustrated & Annotated Edition) (ePub)

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547 - 1616) was a pivotal figure in Spanish literature, renowned for penning 'Don Quixote' (Illustrated & Annotated Edition), which is often hailed as the first modern novel. Born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, Cervantes' life spanned a period of momentous change as the Renaissance gave way to the Modern Age. Despite scant documentation of his early years, Cervantes' later life is a testament to a storied career punctuated by personal hardships, including captivity as a slave in Algiers and inconsistent financial success. 'Don Quixote', Cervantes' magnum opus, was published in two parts (1605 and 1615) and depicts the eponymous character's chivalric misadventures, orchestrated by the blend of reality and the illusion of the increasingly insane protagonist. This work has endured as a cornerstone of Western literature, influencing countless writers and artists and contributing seminal concepts to the narrative form, such as intertextuality and metafiction. Cervantes' literary style combined a unique mix of realism, satire, and psychological insight, which positioned him as a forerunner of the novel genre and earned him the moniker of 'The Prince of Wits'. His rich portrayal of human nature and critique of the social and political constructs of his era carried an eloquence that has resonated through the centuries, affirming his legacy as a master storyteller whose work transcends time.