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TILTING AT WINDMILLSMIGUEL DE CERVANTES

MIGUEL DE CERVANTESThe exact date of his birth is not known, but it is probable that he was born on September 29, thefeast dayofSaint Michael the Archangel, given the tradition to name a child with the name of the feast day of his birth.

His father was Rodrigo de Cervantes, a surgeon ofGaliciandescen

While in Tomar, Portugal, in 1581, Cervantes was given money to accomplish a royal mission to Oran.On December 12, 1584, Cervantes married Doa Catalina de Palacios Salazar y Vozmediano, from Esquivias, in the old kingdom of Toledo, Spain.

It is very probable that Cervantes was jailed again for financial reasons. Most of his time must have been taken up by the writing ofDon Quixote.In January 1605Don Quixotewas published in Madrid. It was an immediate success. In the words of the German philosopher F. W. J. von Schellin

TILTING AT WINDMILLSAttacking imaginary enemies.

The phrase derives from an episode in the novelDon QuixotebyMiguel de Cervantes. In the novel, Don Quixote fightswindmillsthat he imagines to begiants. Quixote sees the windmill blades as the giant's arms.

Part I published in 1605; Part II in 1615.

Don Quixoteis considered the most influential work of literature from theSpanish Golden Ageand the entire Spanish literary canon.

Don Quixotewas cited as the "best literary work ever written".

As a founding work of modern Western literature, and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.

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