Friday, October 12, 2007

Don Quixote

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote is a middle-aged Spanish gentleman who has been obsessed with books of knightly chivalry. He has sold land so he could afford more books. He has let his property go to seed. Finally, he armors up and hits the road. His armor is old and battered. He creates a make shift helmet. And he takes his old work horse which he renames Rocinante. He hires Sancho Panza as his squire. Sancho is a bit slow but he knows every proverb ever uttered.

The book is a series of adventures. Quixote sees what he wants to see in the world around him. Anything he sees can be explained in the language of chivalry. He believes there are enchanters that either aid or hinder knights.

"Don Quixote" is a wonderful book. It's funny. When it was published it was so popular another author of the time took it upon himself to write a sequel. Cervantes was not pleased and wrote his own. He then ridicules the other in his version.

Being two books added together it turns out to 890 pages. But the stories break it into sections. The familiar "tilting at windmills" is short. But my favorite was the puppet show. Quixote thought the puppets needed assistance so jumped to the stage with his sword and attacked the Moor puppets, demolishing the show. I laughed out loud.

It's really a great book. There's a reason people have been reading it for 400 years.

1 comment:

Stephanie said...

This is one of those titles that I always look at and say, "I really need to read that book." Then I never do!!!

I'm glad to hear you liked it!