Miguel De Cervantes

1547 - 1616 *

celebrated Spanish playwright and poet, whose Don Quixote is the most famous work in Spanish literature.

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born near Madrid, Spain. Little is known about his early life, although we know that he became an avid reader at a young age. He did not go to university, and, like his hero in Don Quixote, his life seems a product of fate. He fought at the battle of Lepanto -- at this battle, his left hand was maimed. He was later captured by pirates and sold as a slave to a Greek.

Despite early failures in his writing career, Don Quixote was a success. The work parodied the romances of chivalry, and is seen as a milestone in the development of the modern novel.

          Source: Classics Network Editorial Team

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, MIGUEL DE (1547—1616), Spanish
novelist, playwright and poet, was born at Alcală. de Henares in ‘547. The attempts of biographers to provide him with an illustrious genealogy are unsuccessful. The family history begins with the author’s grandfather, Juan de Cervantes (b. 1490), a lawyer who at one time (1545-6) administered the estates of the duke de Osuna, and resided later at Cordova, where he died about 1555. Cervantes’ father was Rodrigo de Cervantes, an apothecary-surgeon, who married Leonor de Cortinas in 1540 or 1541. The children of this marriage were Andrbs (b. 15... [read entire biography]

          Source: Public Domain

These essays offer analysis of the author's life and works. Many of them have been submitted by users, and are assigned an Editorial Rating on a scale from one to five stars to assist you in evaluating their worth. See also: Note on Essays, Editorial Policy.

     

Don Quixote -- Genre Essay -- Don Quixote, one of the first novels ever written, was instrumental in the development of the modern novel.
By DaRabbit, Student	Editorial Rating:

Don Quixote -- Context Essay -- Evaluates Don Quixote to the ideologies of its informing context.
By DaRabbit, Student	Editorial Rating:

     

No links about this author have been added yet. Our database is growing rapidly -- check back soon!

     

No quotes by this author have been added yet. Our database is growing rapidly -- check back soon!

Additional searches

Cervantes at Encarta Encyclopedia

Cervantes at Britannica Encyclopedia

Cervantes at Xrefer.com