Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Since its publication, Don Quixote was immediately embraced by readers. Over nearly a century, this work has been translated and published more than a thousand times worldwide, becoming one of the most beloved world literary classics. Like other literary masters, Cervantes accurately captured the pulse of his time, yet unlike them, his language and the world he depicted in the book are easily understood by modern readers without much explanation. The translator of this book, Mr. Yang Jiang, is a renowned contemporary Chinese female writer. Her translation is vivid, lively, humorous, and faithfully reflects the intellectual content and artistic style of the original work, making it a perfect match for the masterpiece. For her successful translation of this world-famous classic, she was awarded the Spanish "King Alfonso X the Wise Medal" in 1986. Don Quixote is one of the most internationally acclaimed and influential Spanish literary masterpieces.
Part One narrates how Don Quixote becomes obsessed with knight-errant novels and attempts to imitate the life of ancient chivalric knights. He assembles a suit of armor, rides a lean horse, and goes on his first adventure, returning injured. On his second outing, he enlists his neighbor Sancho Panza as a squire and together they embark on many absurd and ridiculous adventures: mistaking windmills for giants, a inn for a castle, and a flock of sheep for enemies—only to nearly lose their lives before being rescued and brought home.
Part Two describes Don Quixote and Sancho Panza embarking on their third adventure together. It depicts the thrilling encounters Don Quixote experiences along the way, as well as how the Countess tricks Don Quixote and Sancho, and how Sancho serves as a governor of an island. Eventually, Don Quixote is defeated by his neighbor, the knightly Sampson, returns home, falls ill, and only realizes the folly of his knight-errant tales upon his deathbed, where he laments and denounces the novels.