Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
A famous Spanish novelist, playwright, poet, and
the creator of Don Quixote, the most famous
figure in Spanish literature
¿Quién es Cervantes?
• Born September 29, 1547
• Alcalá de Henares, Spain
• Rodrigo de Cervantes –father
– Was a doctor, so family traveled a lot
• Cervantes was the fourth of 7 children
¿ Como es Alcalá de Henares?
La Vida de Cervantes
• Studied in Madrid from 1568-69
– His teacher was Juan López de Hoyos
• In 1570, he went to Italy and joined the
Spanish infantry in Naples.
• Took part in the Sea battle at Lepanto
(1571), during which he received a wound
that permanently maimed his left hand
– El manco de Lepanto
• After recuperation in Sicily, he continued
his career in the military
• In 1575, he tried returning to Spain on the
ship El Sol
• The ship was captured by pirates and he
was taken to Algiers as a slave
• Was there for 5 years until his family was
able to raise money for ransom.
• In 1584, he married Catalina de Palacios, the
daughter of a well-to-do peasant.
• The marriage was childless.
– Had a daughter, Isabel de Saavedra, from an affair
he had with an actress, Ana Franca de Rojas
• In 1585, he published his first long work
– “Pastoral Romance” Prose
• Left his wife in the late 1580’s
• Had many odd jobs
– Purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada
– Tax collector
• He suffered a bankruptcy and was
imprisoned at least twice (1597 and 1602)
because of fiscal irregularities
¿Dónde vivía Cervantes?
• Sevilla
– 1596-1600
• Valladolid
– 1600-1604
• Settled permanently in Madrid in 1606
• Cervantes died on April 23, 1616
Don Quixote
• Published in 1605
• The First Part of Don Quixote came out in 1605
– Immediate success
– Translated into English, French, and Italian within the
next twenty years
– In 1615, the second part came out
– Cervantes saw none of the profits because he sold his
publishing rights
Don Quixote
• Often called the first modern novel
• Thought of as a comic satire against
chivalry and romance
• Has many interpretations
– Reality vs. Fantasy
– Symbolizes perplexity of the Spanish
character
– Reflection on Cervantes’ own life
Don Quixote
• Deals with friendship and mutual respect
Not a comedy, not a tragedy
• Panoramic view of the 17th-century
Spanish society