Don Quixote---Expert Guide to the Illustrated World Literature Masterpiece

Author: [Spanish] Miguel de Cervantes / Wang Lu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Chinese encyclopedia-style illustrated classic reading! Includes expert introductions: background knowledge / author profile / work summary; exclusively introduces exquisite illustrations by renowned Italian artists; it is both a literary classic with beautiful color illustrations and an encyclopedia about the classic. Don Quixote is Cervantes' masterpiece, telling the story of an elderly gentleman who firmly believes in chivalry and wanders around. This work showcases the chivalric spirit that was popular in Spain in the 16th century. Through the absurd and foolish series of actions of the protagonist, it satirizes the social reality of the time. The protagonist, Don Quixote, dreams of becoming a knight and, after being knighted, sets out to be a hero and promote the chivalric spirit in his mind. His servant Sancho is a particularly pragmatic, money-oriented worldly figure. Through the author's portrayal of these two characters, he vividly depicts two completely different personalities. After reading a large number of chivalric novels, Don Quixote's mind becomes unbalanced, becoming obsessed with the spirit of chivalry and embarking on a series of absurd and laughable actions. He gives himself a name, puts on armor, rides his gaunt old horse, and goes on adventures, doing things that would make ordinary people laugh out loud. The beautiful and noble Dulcinea in his imagination is actually an ordinary village girl, but she never appears until the end of the story. After Don Quixote and his servant Sancho do some of those absurd things, with the help of their friends, they return home. Soon after, his mind gradually returns to normal. He awakens from his absurd fantasies and, after reflecting on his actions, dies peacefully.