Miguel De Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) was a Spanish writer most celebrated for his novel "Don Quixote," published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. This work, often cited as the first modern novel, narrates the adventures of the delusional knight-errant and his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares and spent much of his life in poverty despite his literary success. In addition to "Don Quixote," Cervantes authored "Novelas ejemplares" (1613), a collection of twelve short stories that explored various themes and showcased his narrative versatility. He also composed "La Galatea" (1585), a pastoral romance. Captured by pirates in 1575, Cervantes endured five years of captivity in Algiers before his ransom. He died in Madrid in 1616.