Journey Through World Classics - Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
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 universally beloved classics of world literature. Like other literary masters, Cervantes accurately captured the pulse of his time, but unlike them, his language and the world he depicted in his work 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 and artistic style of the original work, making it a masterpiece translated by a masterpiece. She was awarded the Spanish "King Alfonso X the Wise Medal" in 1986 for her successful translation of this world-famous work. 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 adventure, he enlists his neighbor Sancho Panza as a squire and together they embark on many absurd and ridiculous quests: 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 him and his squire, and how Sancho serves as a governor of an island. In the end, Don Quixote is defeated by his neighbor Simón, dressed as a knight, and returns home, bedridden. Upon his deathbed, he finally realizes the folly of his ways and denounces the knight-errant novels.