Don Quixote (illustrated & annotated): The Unabridged Classic Ormsby Translation fully illustrated by Gustave Doré

Miguel de Cervantes

Nov 2023 · DigiCat

About this ebook

This carefully crafted ebook: "Don Quixote (illustrated & annotated) - The Unabridged Classic Ormsby" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. It is the version based on unabridged classic Ormsby translation, fully illustrated by Gustave Doré. Don Quixote, fully titled The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes, published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615. It follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, an hidalgo who reads so many chivalric novels that he decides to set out to revive chivalry, under the name Don Quixote. He recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, who often employs a unique, earthly wit in dealing with Don Quixote's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood. Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered to be the first modern European novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written. John Ormsby (1829–1895) was a nineteenth-century British translator. He is most famous for his 1885 English translation of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote de la Mancha, perhaps the most scholarly and accurate English translation of the novel up to that time. Ormsby's translation has seen more editions than any other nineteenth-century English version of the novel, having been included in the Heritage Book Club series of great novels, and in the famous Great Books of the Western World set.

About the author

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language, and one of the preeminent novelists in world literature. His masterpiece, 'Don Quixote' (fully titled 'The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'), is considered the first modern novel. This seminal work, which is both a satire of chivalric romances and a commentary on the human condition, has been celebrated for its narrative style, character development, and rich humor. Cervantes's 'Don Quixote' has been translated into numerous languages and has been illustrated and annotated in various editions, reflecting its enduring global appeal and scholarly interest. Born near Madrid, Cervantes lived an adventurous life that included military service, where he sustained injuries at the Battle of Lepanto, and time spent as a captive in Algiers. His experiences shaped his worldview and literary voice, which he expressed in several works besides 'Don Quixote', such as 'Novelas ejemplares' (Exemplary Novels) and his pastoral novel 'La Galatea'. As a pivotal figure in literature, Cervantes's influence extended beyond his era, securing his legacy as the 'Prince of Wits' and ensuring that his work remains a cornerstone of classical Western literature.