Don Quixote

Written by Miguel de Cervantes

Narrated by Geoffrey Giuliano And the Icon Ensemble

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born 29 September 1547 was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. He is best known for his novel Don Quixote, a work often cited as both the first modern novel and one of the pinnacles of world literature.

Much of his life was spent in poverty and obscurity, many of its details are disputed or unknown, and the bulk of his surviving work was produced in the three years preceding his death. Despite this, his influence and literary contribution are reflected by the fact that Spanish is often referred to as "the language of Cervantes".[12]

An incident in the story of Don Quixote (1870), by English painter Robert Hillingford, depicts a scene from Cervantes' magnum opus.

In 1569, Cervantes was forced to leave Spain and moved to Rome, where he worked in the household of a cardinal. In 1570, he enlisted in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment and was badly wounded at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571. He served as a soldier until 1575, when he was captured by Barbary pirates; after five years in captivity, he was ransomed and returned to Madrid.

His first significant novel, titled La Galatea, was published in 1585, but he continued to work as a purchasing agent, then later a government tax collector. Part One of Don Quixote was published in 1605, Part Two in 1615. Other works include the 12 Exemplary Novels a long poem, Journey to Parnassus); and Eight Plays and Eight Entr'actes. The Travails of Persiles and Sigismunda, was published posthumously in 1616.

He died on 22 April 1616.

Produced by Macc Kay

Production executive Avalon Giuliano

ICON Intern Eden Garret Giuliano

©2021 Eden Garret Giuliano (P) 2021 Eden Garret Giuliano

Geoffrey Giuliano is the author of over thirty internationally bestselling biographies, including the London Sunday Times bestseller 'Blackbird: The Life and Times of Paul McCartney' and 'Dark Horse:

• Language: English
• Publisher: Author's Republic
• Release date: Jun 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662198090

Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes was born on September 29, 1547, in Alcala de Henares, Spain. At twenty-three he enlisted in the Spanish militia and in 1571 fought against the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto, where a gunshot wound permanently crippled his left hand. He spent four more years at sea and then another five as a slave after being captured by Barbary pirates. Ransomed by his family, he returned to Madrid but his disability hampered him; it was in debtor's prison that he began to write Don Quixote. Cervantes wrote many other works, including poems and plays, but he remains best known as the author of Don Quixote. He died on April 23, 1616.