On this day in 1547, (it is believed that) Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born outside of Madrid, Spain. He would go on to become one of the most-admired writers in the world and his masterpiece, Don Quixote, is foundational to the Western literary canon. Many consider this book the first modern novel and many consider it the world's greatest novel.
But much of Cervantes's early life was lived in poverty and obscurity. He and his family often found themselves dodging creditors or the law. Miguel was one of seven children born to a cash-strapped family—a family which some scholars believe were "New Christians" (that is, Spanish or Portuguese Jewish converts to Catholicism). While this heritage may or may not be the case, it might help to explain the difficult circumstances exacted upon his family.
There is no authenticated portrait of Cervantes, though (from time to time) scholars have speculated that a certain painting may have been the image of the writer.
Don Quixote was published in two parts—in 1605 and 1615 (the year before he died). English translations were published in 1612 and 1620. Cervantes's protagonist is Alonso Quijano, born upon the lowest rungs of Spanish nobility. He buries himself in medieval stories of brave knights and their chivalric quests. He fashions himself a knight-errant and sets out to serve his country, prove his gallantry, and restore chivalry to its medieval splendor. His sidekick ("squire") is a simple farm laborer, Sancho Panza, whose earthy wit stands in humorous counterpoint to Alonso's lofty rhetoric. The novel has inspired numerous important writers (and works) and has given us the word "quixotic": to be exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical.
The Spanish carved wooden sculpture, shown above, captures (an annoyed?) Sancho Panza, wondering what he'll be asked to do next. Perhaps he's wondering whatever became of the Man of La Mancha. Click on the photo above to learn more about this charming literary souvenir.
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