Don Quixote de la Mancha

Don Quixote de la Mancha, a satirical romance by Cervantes, published 1605, a second part appearing 1615. Cervantes gave to his work initially the form of a burlesque of the ballads and romances of chivalry (see Amadis of Gaul and Palmerin of England). But the character of his hero developed and deepened and his work acquired the richness and profundity that have made it one of the most popular classics ever written.

Don Quixote, a poor gentleman of La Mancha, a man of amiable disposition, has had his wits disordered by inordinate devotion to the tales of chivalry, and imagines himself called upon to roam the world in search of adventures on his old horse, Rosinante, and accoutred in rusty armour, accompanied by his squire Sancho Panza, a curious mixture of shrewdness and credulity. Quixote conforms to chivalric tradition by electing a girl of the neighbouring village as the mistress of his heart, under the style of Dulcinea del Toboso, an honour of which she is entirely unaware. He is consequently involved in the most absurd adventures, as in the famous episode (Part I, ch. viii) when he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants. Finally one of his friends, the bachelor Samson Carrasco, in order to force him to return home, disguises himself as a knight, overthrows Don Quixote, and requires him to abstain for a year from chivalrous exploits. This period Don Quixote resolves to spend as a shepherd, living a pastoral life, but, falling sick on his return to his village, after a few days he dies. The plot also contains several lengthy digressions, including the story of the Curious Impertinent, and the story of Cardenio and Lucinda.

The book was translated into English between 1612 and 1620 by Thomas Shelton, and in 1700–3 by Motteux; J. M. Cohen's Penguin Classic version first appeared in 1950. Don Quixote supplied the plots of several 17th-cent. English plays, and inspired and continues to inspire innumerable imitations. Don Quixote and Quixotism have been described as the genius of the Spanish nation, but he has also been adopted by many other countries.