Don Quixote

Product Description

Miguel de Cervantes's mock-epic masterwork Don Quixote" was voted the greatest book of all time by the Nobel Institute & this " Penguin Classics" edition is translated with an introduction & notes by John Rutherford. " Don Quixote" has become so entranced by reading romances of chivalry that he determines to become a knight errant & pursue bold adventures accompanied by his squire the cunning Sancho Panza. As they roam the world together the aging Quixote's fancy leads them wildly astray tilting at windmills fighting with friars & distorting the rural Spanish landscape into a fantasy of impenetrable fortresses & wicked sorcerers. At the same time the relationship between the two men grows in fascinating subtlety. Often considered to be the first modern novel " Don Quixote" is a wonderful burlesque of the popular literature its disordered protagonist is obsessed with. John Rutherford's landmark translation does full justice to the energy & wit of Cervantes' prose & this edition of " Don Quixote" won the 2002 Premio Valle Inclan prize for translation. His introduction discusses the traditional works parodied in " Don Quixote" & issues of literary translation. Miguel de Cervantes Saaverda's (1547-1616) life was occupied with a struggle to earn a livelihood from literature & humble government employment. As well as " Don Quixote" he wrote a number of plays & a collection of highly accomplished short stories " Exemplary Tales" (1613). If you enjoyed " Don Quixote" you might like Homer's " Odyssey" also available in " Penguin Classics". " John Rutherford makes " Don Quixote" funny & readable.. . His Quixote can be pompous imposingly learned secretly fearful mad & touching". (Colin Burrow " The Times Literary Supplement")."