«In a place in La Mancha, whose name I don’t want to remember» is the very famous beginning of the book Don Quixote de la Mancha, written by Miguel de Cervantes. We all know him, right? But do you know what happens to Don Quixote in his story? Or who was Cervantes?
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes was born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, and had a very eventful life. He had six siblings and when he was little he traveled a lot because his father always had to look for work to feed them. But despite this, he and his brothers were able to go to school and learn to read, and Cervantes loved it.
When he was older he became a soldier. Have you ever heard him called “the one-handed man from Lepanto”? Well, it is because he participated in the battle of Lepanto and his left hand was wounded there. But be careful, it’s not that they cut off his hand, which is what many people believe. The thing is that he could no longer move her because of the injuries.
In addition to living in Spain, he also spent time in Italy. When she wanted to return to Spain by boat, another boat attacked them in the middle of a storm! They took him and one of his brothers prisoners. They tried to escape many times but they couldn’t. After five years, his family was able to pay the ransom and they finally returned to Spain.
From then on he began to write books. Many were hardly known, but then it came Don Quijote of La Mancha and became famous throughout the world.
Don Quijote of La Mancha
Don Quixote, who was actually called Don Alonso Quijano, was a man who loved books of chivalry. He had lots of books, bought many more and spent all day reading. He liked them so much that he decided that he would also be a gentleman. He took the name of Don Quixote; he climbed onto his mount, the horse Rocinante; he sought out a noble lover, Dulcinea del Toboso (who was actually a normal woman named Aldonza Lorenzo); He acquired a squire, Sancho Panza, and began his journey to live great adventures like the knights in his books.
Crazy, right?! And Don Quixote was a little crazy. Like when he attacks some windmills thinking they are giants! But although the stories that he believes happen to him are almost all in his head, following his adventures along with poor Sancho is hilarious.
Today, Don Quixote has been translated into almost 50 different languages! so that people from all over the world can read it.
The book written by Cervantes is a bit long and complicated, but if you feel like accompanying Don Quixote and Sancho Panza on their adventures, there are plenty of books to choose from. In almost any bookstore or library you can find a version of Don Quixote for children. Get ready for the big, crazy story of Don Quijote of La Mancha!