Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little further use in a changing world. Therefore a knight-errant who, contrary to his literary heroes, is aged fifty, skinny and a poor rural gentleman. Sancho Panza is a fat, illiterate, lying and married squire lacking the gentility and education associated with chivalrous apprenticeship. It is interesting to note that Don Quixote did not die with the literary genre it parodies but has become a classic text of western cultural tradition.

Not the best version available.., 26 Aug 2006
Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the stories of Don Quixote, but I found this translation far too poetical and long-winded to actually read. I realise that this specific version was written 200+ years ago and in some ways may perhaps stay more true to the original version, but I definitely think there are better, easier to follow editions available. Also, the book isn't exactly a pleasure to look at, though I suppose that's why it's so cheap to buy. I would go as far to say that if you want to truly understand and enjoy Don Quixote, you should read it in its original form. This translation is only really suitable for someone who might also have the Spanish version and wants to read the two.

Worthy of its reputation, 08 Apr 2006
A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.DON QUIXOTE is a must read which you should include with other must reads like UNION MOUJIK, WAR AND PEACE, GULLIVER'S TRAVEL,CANTERBURY TALES. One thing for sure is that this new translation of DON QUIXOTE will make it a popular story even with the young.

The original comedy double act, 07 Feb 2005
'DQ' is the story of an old man (Don Quixote) who, having read one too many books about knights of old, goes a little potty and starts believing that he is a knight. He ropes a hapless neighbour (Sancho Panza) into service as his squire and together they go off seeking adventure and fortune. Quixote's madness turns windmills into giants and flocks of sheep into armies, and a peasant woman into the princess for whom he performs his deeds. Along the way they meet a series of people, most of whom exploit Quixote's madness by playing practical jokes and sending him on fool's errands. All the while his friends and family try to entice him back to his home and away from his madness.
Quixote and Panza are the original comedy double act (stupid but thinks he is clever, and stupid but knows it, respectively), and the pair's exploits are genuinely funny. Much of the comedy is slapstick (them getting beaten black and blue) with a good dose of toilet humour thrown in. In addition there is some great dialogue, largely centring on Sancho's attempts at wisdom. This is not merely funny for a four hundred year old book, it is just plain funny. Sancho in particular is a brilliant creation, and the book becomes more about him than Quixote by the end. The first book describes their initial sorties, the second describes their travels after they had become famous (due to the publication of the first book). I like this blurring of fiction and reality, and 'DQ' is the earliest example that I have come across.
However, there are flaws in this book. Cervantes frequently uses the introduction of new characters to get side-tracked into unrelated narratives, which starts to get annoying because they add little or nothing to the book. Cervantes, to his credit, seems to have realised this because in the second book he chastises the fictional author if Quixote's history (called Cid Benengali Hamed) for these mistakes. In addition, the book is very long and it is sometimes hard to see what some of the episodes add to it. Cervantes style improves immeasurably in the second book, probably due to the criticisms of the first book that he himself outlines, so it is definitely worth persevering if you are struggling. By the end he even introduces a tragic element, which is beautifully told; well enough to leave a lump in the throat. Although it is largely comic, the novel definitely has some depth, largely due to the utter believability of its two main characters, who feel very familiar by the end. (In addition I would recommend the translation by Tobias Smollett, which is very accessible but retains the Olde Worlde feel of the setting very nicely). It is an excellent read, funny and vivid, and not at all intimidating despite its size and age. Go on, try it.

Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little further use in a changing world. Therefore a knight-errant who, contrary to his literary heroes, is aged fifty, skinny and a poor rural gentleman. Sancho Panza is a fat, illiterate, lying and married squire lacking the gentility and education associated with chivalrous apprenticeship. It is interesting to note that Don Quixote did not die with the literary genre it parodies but has become a classic text of western cultural tradition.

Not the best version available.., 26 Aug 2006
Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the stories of Don Quixote, but I found this translation far too poetical and long-winded to actually read. I realise that this specific version was written 200+ years ago and in some ways may perhaps stay more true to the original version, but I definitely think there are better, easier to follow editions available. Also, the book isn't exactly a pleasure to look at, though I suppose that's why it's so cheap to buy. I would go as far to say that if you want to truly understand and enjoy Don Quixote, you should read it in its original form. This translation is only really suitable for someone who might also have the Spanish version and wants to read the two.

Worthy of its reputation, 08 Apr 2006
A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.DON QUIXOTE is a must read which you should include with other must reads like UNION MOUJIK, WAR AND PEACE, GULLIVER'S TRAVEL,CANTERBURY TALES. One thing for sure is that this new translation of DON QUIXOTE will make it a popular story even with the young.

The original comedy double act, 07 Feb 2005
'DQ' is the story of an old man (Don Quixote) who, having read one too many books about knights of old, goes a little potty and starts believing that he is a knight. He ropes a hapless neighbour (Sancho Panza) into service as his squire and together they go off seeking adventure and fortune. Quixote's madness turns windmills into giants and flocks of sheep into armies, and a peasant woman into the princess for whom he performs his deeds. Along the way they meet a series of people, most of whom exploit Quixote's madness by playing practical jokes and sending him on fool's errands. All the while his friends and family try to entice him back to his home and away from his madness.
Quixote and Panza are the original comedy double act (stupid but thinks he is clever, and stupid but knows it, respectively), and the pair's exploits are genuinely funny. Much of the comedy is slapstick (them getting beaten black and blue) with a good dose of toilet humour thrown in. In addition there is some great dialogue, largely centring on Sancho's attempts at wisdom. This is not merely funny for a four hundred year old book, it is just plain funny. Sancho in particular is a brilliant creation, and the book becomes more about him than Quixote by the end. The first book describes their initial sorties, the second describes their travels after they had become famous (due to the publication of the first book). I like this blurring of fiction and reality, and 'DQ' is the earliest example that I have come across.
However, there are flaws in this book. Cervantes frequently uses the introduction of new characters to get side-tracked into unrelated narratives, which starts to get annoying because they add little or nothing to the book. Cervantes, to his credit, seems to have realised this because in the second book he chastises the fictional author if Quixote's history (called Cid Benengali Hamed) for these mistakes. In addition, the book is very long and it is sometimes hard to see what some of the episodes add to it. Cervantes style improves immeasurably in the second book, probably due to the criticisms of the first book that he himself outlines, so it is definitely worth persevering if you are struggling. By the end he even introduces a tragic element, which is beautifully told; well enough to leave a lump in the throat. Although it is largely comic, the novel definitely has some depth, largely due to the utter believability of its two main characters, who feel very familiar by the end. (In addition I would recommend the translation by Tobias Smollett, which is very accessible but retains the Olde Worlde feel of the setting very nicely). It is an excellent read, funny and vivid, and not at all intimidating despite its size and age. Go on, try it.

Why write a review at all?..., 06 Aug 2008
It seems almost facile to write a review of a book held up as one of the greatest ever written, but I simply want to add my voice to the other reviewers urging you to finally pick up this weighty book. It deserves the praise. Hilarious, tragic and insightful in equal measure, this book is unforgettable.

puzzling, 18 Jun 2008
This book is probably one of the most famous books ever written. It is 400 years old and appears to be about an silly old fool who suffers from delusions. Anyone who intends to read it would do well to read as many reviews as possible to try to get some idea as to what to expect from this book. I did all this and after reading six chapters I still came to the conclusion that it was a load of gibberish. At this point I was forced to stop and try to work out what on earth I was attempting to read. The stories are a load of idiotic nonsense. They are full of over-contrived violence which doesn't make any sense in the context of the story. It is only when you realise that Cervantes was in prison at the time of writing the first part of the book that you realise this is anti-government propaganda. Since in those days , free speech was accompanied by the chop; the absurdly contrived stories can be seen as symbolic rather than literal. There are numerous comparisons between Shakespeare and Cervantes but one thing comes across very clearly is that most of this book is perfectly readable and stories and the symbolism of the stories is perfectly understandable. Shakespeare is a load of poetic gibberish. In my opinion this book has survived for 400 years because it functions like a psychiatrist inkblot test; the reader simply fits their own personality to match the symbolism of the stories. For those who are prepared to read between the lines of this book, there is a most unusual opportunity to compare the attitudes of society 400 years ago with the attitudes of today. Cervantes was a soldier who was wounded fighting for his country. He worked as a tax collector and got put in prison for committing some unspecified offence. No allowance is made for the injuries received in the defence of his country; this fits very well with stories in today's newspapers. Clearly nothing much has changed in 400 years.
Another very interesting aspect of the book is that it shows the manner in which people reacted to Don Quixote's madness; in fact people react exactly the same as today. I always had the impression that people 400 years ago were very superstitious and believed in magic spells and monsters. This book shows that people had similar attitudes to this sort of thing as we do today; very different to the impression given by Shakespeare. Books of this period usually only give and insight into the lives of rich people; this book gives a considerable insight into the lives and attitudes of ordinary people.
What sparked my interest to read this book was the number of people who use the term `Quixotic'. I had an impression of what this meant based on what I had been taught at school ; however I was interested to try to discover what it really meant. All the definitions that I have read of Quixotic are different from each other ; why ? The Wikipedia definition is better than most ; but still a bit vague and waffley. After reading the book, my impression is that the book functions on too many levels for the term Quixotic to have any sensible meaning. Even the Wikipedia definition simply describes the superficial literal interpretation of the Quixote character. The Quixote character is symbolic and is intended as a criticism of government , social class / snobbery, morality, social conventions. The accepted definitions of Quixotic are based on a superficial understanding of the Quixote character which make the definitions meaningless.


Widely considered unfilmable. That's because it's rubbish. , 12 Feb 2008
Reading other reviews it appears that readers tend to like mulling over the novel Don Quixote over a period of time to fully savour the experience. I also took three months to read it, but that was because I struggled to motivate myself to read more than 10-20 pages at a time.

One major problem is the humour, which has not aged well. Most of the 900+ plus pages deal with the same joke, Don Quixote's insane belief that he is a brave knight errant, as described in medieval romances, told time and time again. Jokes are explained to death. Sancho Panza, Don Quixote's squire, whilst he does get some lines of dialogue that are still funny, is not the consistent earthly wit that some critics make him out to be. Often he is simply just plain stupid. Another problem is the structure. In Part One, the story often digresses into other narratives to which the relevance to Don Quixote is minimal at best. The tone of these stories is very different to the main narrative, romantic or tragic rather than `funny'. A third is the lack of realism in the main plot. Often Cervantes will describe a situation by saying that it was resolved, or that Sancho Panza was very amusing, or that Don Quixote demonstrated his insanity without describing how.

That is not to say that it is difficult to read. Edith Grossman's translation is easy to follow and would be a joy to read were it not for the subject matter. The other highlight for me was the section in part two where Sancho Panza was governor of an `insula' for ten days. This, for me, was a truly fine part of the novel, both in terms of interest and Panza's humour, which on this occasion was convincingly demonstrated.

It must also be said that the novel is historically interesting as am early attempt at a novel. As Johnson would have put, it is not that it was done well that is astonishing, but that it was done at all. The point for me, however, is that it was not done well, a point even acknowledged by Cervantes in several points of reference to Part One in Part Two (responding to complaints of digression and lack of continuity - particularly as regards the mysterious disappearance and appearance of Panza's donkey). That fact that it was done at all is of historical interest not of interest to the general reader. It certainly doesn't deserve Harold Bloom's praise of being the "finest modern novel".


a story well told, 20 Jul 2007
For decades I wondered what all the fuss was about. Don Quixote remained in my mind - a mystical figure from a closed literary genre of long ago. I browsed numerous editions from a multitude of publishers and translators, but could never get past the first chapter or two. Nonetheless something always drew me back to the knght who was misplaced in time, action and outlook.
Then I chanced upon Edith Grossman's translation, and came to realise that it's not the tale but the telling that makes a story.
Don Quixote leaps from the pages of this translation with a force that carries his doubtful but loyal squire Sancho Panza in its wake. This is an hilarious and serious work. It speaks of honour and ridicule and aspiration beyond one's means. And it was written 300 years ago. So what's new?
Read Don Quixote if you want to ponder timeless issues faced by every generation. Should you wish to read it without pain and in English, make sure you choose Edith Grossman's translation. It's a gift from the gods of literature.

A wonderful translation, and a heavy book, 02 Jul 2006
How can a person provide a review of one of the most important works of literature in the world? In my case, I don't think I can, but I can offer observations on what it felt like to read.

I first read Don Quixote in a previous translation, and finally made it through the first volume in a few months. It was like pulling teeth. I knew that it was a famous story, and techically interesting, but the first three hundred pages seemed like repetitive episodes of the same joke. It appeared little wonder that the most quoted chapter around tilting at windmills was the first one.

This time around, with Edith Grossman's translation, it was a great deal more enjoyable. The text flows beautifully, and where it is impossible to translate nuances or technical terms, she explains all in informative footnotes. For once, I can only agree with the publishers: it is the definitive translation.

This is well worth the effort of braving the initial episodes, and taking the time to read properly. For me, it's only after the famous events such as mistaking sheep for an approaching army and suchlike are out of the way, that the book becomes really interesting. There are fascinating novellas that dwell on relations with the Moors, and the perils of young love in the 16th Century, which are at least as good as the main text.

So, by all means, buy this version. Particularly the paperback. The hardback was too heavy to read in bed.

Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little further use in a changing world. Therefore a knight-errant who, contrary to his literary heroes, is aged fifty, skinny and a poor rural gentleman. Sancho Panza is a fat, illiterate, lying and married squire lacking the gentility and education associated with chivalrous apprenticeship. It is interesting to note that Don Quixote did not die with the literary genre it parodies but has become a classic text of western cultural tradition.

Not the best version available.., 26 Aug 2006
Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the stories of Don Quixote, but I found this translation far too poetical and long-winded to actually read. I realise that this specific version was written 200+ years ago and in some ways may perhaps stay more true to the original version, but I definitely think there are better, easier to follow editions available. Also, the book isn't exactly a pleasure to look at, though I suppose that's why it's so cheap to buy. I would go as far to say that if you want to truly understand and enjoy Don Quixote, you should read it in its original form. This translation is only really suitable for someone who might also have the Spanish version and wants to read the two.

Worthy of its reputation, 08 Apr 2006
A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.DON QUIXOTE is a must read which you should include with other must reads like UNION MOUJIK, WAR AND PEACE, GULLIVER'S TRAVEL,CANTERBURY TALES. One thing for sure is that this new translation of DON QUIXOTE will make it a popular story even with the young.

The original comedy double act, 07 Feb 2005
'DQ' is the story of an old man (Don Quixote) who, having read one too many books about knights of old, goes a little potty and starts believing that he is a knight. He ropes a hapless neighbour (Sancho Panza) into service as his squire and together they go off seeking adventure and fortune. Quixote's madness turns windmills into giants and flocks of sheep into armies, and a peasant woman into the princess for whom he performs his deeds. Along the way they meet a series of people, most of whom exploit Quixote's madness by playing practical jokes and sending him on fool's errands. All the while his friends and family try to entice him back to his home and away from his madness.
Quixote and Panza are the original comedy double act (stupid but thinks he is clever, and stupid but knows it, respectively), and the pair's exploits are genuinely funny. Much of the comedy is slapstick (them getting beaten black and blue) with a good dose of toilet humour thrown in. In addition there is some great dialogue, largely centring on Sancho's attempts at wisdom. This is not merely funny for a four hundred year old book, it is just plain funny. Sancho in particular is a brilliant creation, and the book becomes more about him than Quixote by the end. The first book describes their initial sorties, the second describes their travels after they had become famous (due to the publication of the first book). I like this blurring of fiction and reality, and 'DQ' is the earliest example that I have come across.
However, there are flaws in this book. Cervantes frequently uses the introduction of new characters to get side-tracked into unrelated narratives, which starts to get annoying because they add little or nothing to the book. Cervantes, to his credit, seems to have realised this because in the second book he chastises the fictional author if Quixote's history (called Cid Benengali Hamed) for these mistakes. In addition, the book is very long and it is sometimes hard to see what some of the episodes add to it. Cervantes style improves immeasurably in the second book, probably due to the criticisms of the first book that he himself outlines, so it is definitely worth persevering if you are struggling. By the end he even introduces a tragic element, which is beautifully told; well enough to leave a lump in the throat. Although it is largely comic, the novel definitely has some depth, largely due to the utter believability of its two main characters, who feel very familiar by the end. (In addition I would recommend the translation by Tobias Smollett, which is very accessible but retains the Olde Worlde feel of the setting very nicely). It is an excellent read, funny and vivid, and not at all intimidating despite its size and age. Go on, try it.

Why write a review at all?..., 06 Aug 2008
It seems almost facile to write a review of a book held up as one of the greatest ever written, but I simply want to add my voice to the other reviewers urging you to finally pick up this weighty book. It deserves the praise. Hilarious, tragic and insightful in equal measure, this book is unforgettable.

puzzling, 18 Jun 2008
This book is probably one of the most famous books ever written. It is 400 years old and appears to be about an silly old fool who suffers from delusions. Anyone who intends to read it would do well to read as many reviews as possible to try to get some idea as to what to expect from this book. I did all this and after reading six chapters I still came to the conclusion that it was a load of gibberish. At this point I was forced to stop and try to work out what on earth I was attempting to read. The stories are a load of idiotic nonsense. They are full of over-contrived violence which doesn't make any sense in the context of the story. It is only when you realise that Cervantes was in prison at the time of writing the first part of the book that you realise this is anti-government propaganda. Since in those days , free speech was accompanied by the chop; the absurdly contrived stories can be seen as symbolic rather than literal. There are numerous comparisons between Shakespeare and Cervantes but one thing comes across very clearly is that most of this book is perfectly readable and stories and the symbolism of the stories is perfectly understandable. Shakespeare is a load of poetic gibberish. In my opinion this book has survived for 400 years because it functions like a psychiatrist inkblot test; the reader simply fits their own personality to match the symbolism of the stories. For those who are prepared to read between the lines of this book, there is a most unusual opportunity to compare the attitudes of society 400 years ago with the attitudes of today. Cervantes was a soldier who was wounded fighting for his country. He worked as a tax collector and got put in prison for committing some unspecified offence. No allowance is made for the injuries received in the defence of his country; this fits very well with stories in today's newspapers. Clearly nothing much has changed in 400 years.
Another very interesting aspect of the book is that it shows the manner in which people reacted to Don Quixote's madness; in fact people react exactly the same as today. I always had the impression that people 400 years ago were very superstitious and believed in magic spells and monsters. This book shows that people had similar attitudes to this sort of thing as we do today; very different to the impression given by Shakespeare. Books of this period usually only give and insight into the lives of rich people; this book gives a considerable insight into the lives and attitudes of ordinary people.
What sparked my interest to read this book was the number of people who use the term `Quixotic'. I had an impression of what this meant based on what I had been taught at school ; however I was interested to try to discover what it really meant. All the definitions that I have read of Quixotic are different from each other ; why ? The Wikipedia definition is better than most ; but still a bit vague and waffley. After reading the book, my impression is that the book functions on too many levels for the term Quixotic to have any sensible meaning. Even the Wikipedia definition simply describes the superficial literal interpretation of the Quixote character. The Quixote character is symbolic and is intended as a criticism of government , social class / snobbery, morality, social conventions. The accepted definitions of Quixotic are based on a superficial understanding of the Quixote character which make the definitions meaningless.


Widely considered unfilmable. That's because it's rubbish. , 12 Feb 2008
Reading other reviews it appears that readers tend to like mulling over the novel Don Quixote over a period of time to fully savour the experience. I also took three months to read it, but that was because I struggled to motivate myself to read more than 10-20 pages at a time.

One major problem is the humour, which has not aged well. Most of the 900+ plus pages deal with the same joke, Don Quixote's insane belief that he is a brave knight errant, as described in medieval romances, told time and time again. Jokes are explained to death. Sancho Panza, Don Quixote's squire, whilst he does get some lines of dialogue that are still funny, is not the consistent earthly wit that some critics make him out to be. Often he is simply just plain stupid. Another problem is the structure. In Part One, the story often digresses into other narratives to which the relevance to Don Quixote is minimal at best. The tone of these stories is very different to the main narrative, romantic or tragic rather than `funny'. A third is the lack of realism in the main plot. Often Cervantes will describe a situation by saying that it was resolved, or that Sancho Panza was very amusing, or that Don Quixote demonstrated his insanity without describing how.

That is not to say that it is difficult to read. Edith Grossman's translation is easy to follow and would be a joy to read were it not for the subject matter. The other highlight for me was the section in part two where Sancho Panza was governor of an `insula' for ten days. This, for me, was a truly fine part of the novel, both in terms of interest and Panza's humour, which on this occasion was convincingly demonstrated.

It must also be said that the novel is historically interesting as am early attempt at a novel. As Johnson would have put, it is not that it was done well that is astonishing, but that it was done at all. The point for me, however, is that it was not done well, a point even acknowledged by Cervantes in several points of reference to Part One in Part Two (responding to complaints of digression and lack of continuity - particularly as regards the mysterious disappearance and appearance of Panza's donkey). That fact that it was done at all is of historical interest not of interest to the general reader. It certainly doesn't deserve Harold Bloom's praise of being the "finest modern novel".


a story well told, 20 Jul 2007
For decades I wondered what all the fuss was about. Don Quixote remained in my mind - a mystical figure from a closed literary genre of long ago. I browsed numerous editions from a multitude of publishers and translators, but could never get past the first chapter or two. Nonetheless something always drew me back to the knght who was misplaced in time, action and outlook.
Then I chanced upon Edith Grossman's translation, and came to realise that it's not the tale but the telling that makes a story.
Don Quixote leaps from the pages of this translation with a force that carries his doubtful but loyal squire Sancho Panza in its wake. This is an hilarious and serious work. It speaks of honour and ridicule and aspiration beyond one's means. And it was written 300 years ago. So what's new?
Read Don Quixote if you want to ponder timeless issues faced by every generation. Should you wish to read it without pain and in English, make sure you choose Edith Grossman's translation. It's a gift from the gods of literature.

A wonderful translation, and a heavy book, 02 Jul 2006
How can a person provide a review of one of the most important works of literature in the world? In my case, I don't think I can, but I can offer observations on what it felt like to read.

I first read Don Quixote in a previous translation, and finally made it through the first volume in a few months. It was like pulling teeth. I knew that it was a famous story, and techically interesting, but the first three hundred pages seemed like repetitive episodes of the same joke. It appeared little wonder that the most quoted chapter around tilting at windmills was the first one.

This time around, with Edith Grossman's translation, it was a great deal more enjoyable. The text flows beautifully, and where it is impossible to translate nuances or technical terms, she explains all in informative footnotes. For once, I can only agree with the publishers: it is the definitive translation.

This is well worth the effort of braving the initial episodes, and taking the time to read properly. For me, it's only after the famous events such as mistaking sheep for an approaching army and suchlike are out of the way, that the book becomes really interesting. There are fascinating novellas that dwell on relations with the Moors, and the perils of young love in the 16th Century, which are at least as good as the main text.

So, by all means, buy this version. Particularly the paperback. The hardback was too heavy to read in bed.

mad as a box of frogs, 11 Sep 2007
Ok I'm not particularly literey. I only read this as I needed a weighty novel for a summer working abroad but I found every page a joy and have never been so pleased to read anything in my life. Since then I can't stop recommending it to people and forcing them to read it. I've yet to find anybody that doesn't love this book once they've given it a chance.
The characters are wonderful and you'll develop genuine affection for them. The Stories and situations are as bizzare as they are funny. If Monty Python were to get together and rewrite chaucer this is the book they would come up with. Truly beguiling, Truly Funny, Warm, Witty and insane. This is widly regarded as one of and if not the greatest novel ever written. Can't reccommend it enough


An utter masterpiece!, 13 Mar 2007
This novel is a superlative piece of literature, at once eloquent and bawdy, poetic and brash, sweet and rude, traversing through all these contrasts with the delicate ease of a masterly author.

Gushing aside, it is the architypal rivetting read and, despite its huge size, it is divided into many small episodes that make it idea bedtime reading. This translation is excellent and very well researched - there are masses of notes and references at the back to explain the meaning and context of thousands of names, phrases, verses, songs and historical events mention in the book.

I doubt there is praise too lofty for this book. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Good knight Cervantes, 18 Oct 2006
Rutherford's introduction contains a fascinating account of the complexity of the translator's art and it is pleasing to note that this edition has received the recognition is deserves. The narrative flows with supreme ease, feels surprisingly modern whilst capturing its place in history (Spain c.1600). For me Cervantes has a Shakespearian ability to write a story that can exist, with joyful relevance, in any time and place: the legacy of a genius being his or her ability to live in the minds of countless succeeding generations. This is immortality. And the insane, hilarious, haphazard adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza deserve their place in the canon of world literature.

There is so much to enjoy in this tale of chivalry: Cervantes' voice, hidden beneath the narrators, teasing the reader with a fictional account of the history's origins; the digressions, tales of love and loss; Quixote's honourable delusions, metamorphosing his perception of reality (the windmills are the most famous example but there are many others); Panza's mercenary loyalty, his malapropisms interlaced with a stream of proverbs; friends and family; Rocinante and Sancho's `dun'; the imitable maiden Dulcinea. Ultimately I found the evolving relationship between knight errant and squire the most rewarding aspect of the book. The sensitivity in which Cervantes handles this friendship is beautifully drawn out and I was left with a feeling of unbridled love, compassion and affection. Never mind the difference in socials status, master and servant, these two heroes are equals. They suffer together (although Sancho always feels he comes off the worst), they share the same madness and naivety, and they witness the same mirages of the mind (the flying wooden horse scene is very funny). Such is the timeless authority of the humour that it came as no surprise to discover on pages 885-6 a remarkable resemblance to Monty Python's cheese shop sketch. One of the greatest reads I have experienced. Six stars!!!


Maybe the first, maybe the best!, 15 Mar 2005
This book is often referred to as the first modern novel, and written while Shakespeare was still putting on plays in the early 1600s, we can see why. It is also one of the best novels I've read, with some of the best characters in literature.

The story follows the Don as he sallies forth as a knight errant in search of adventure, to win honour and fortune. Unfortunately, Quixote is not a knight but rather an old man with an unravelled mind infected by the reading of too many medieval romances depicting such deeds. The stage is set for a hilarious tale of hallucination and misadventure. With Sancho Panza his loyal squire he takes on spirits, evil enchanters and most famously, of course, giants in the form of windmills.

As we follow the ingenious Hidalgo we find him increasingly endearing, his complete faith in everything he believes is disarmingly lovable while also humiliatingly funny. I found it a surprise that the comedy still holds up today, yet a man trying unsuccessfully against outlandish situations of his own making is very much a cornerstone of today's sitcoms and movies. The character is therefore a familiar one and immensely engaging. While we laugh at him, we can't help admiring his dedication and fearlessness, through this Don Quixote manages somehow to keep his dignity. Above all it is this characteristic that keeps our esteem for him so high.

Sancho Panza, the lovable squire begins very much as a simple companion, only there to highlight the absurdities of the situations invented by the Don himself, but the character grows artfully throughout the adventure becoming indispensable for his simple wit and practicality. This so at odds with the high-minded madman leads to great comedy as conflict and friendship mix to form a subtly growing relationship that provides the foundation of the story.

We also meet a whole host of characters during the course of the adventure, each with their own tale to tell. Using this, the author is able to entertain us with diverse digressions, and stories within stories that never allow the journey to get stale and boring.

A must, must, MUST read. Hilariously absurd throughout as adventure piles on adventure and a new tale unfolds with every character met. Cervantes is a talented entertainer that treats his noble creation with a tenderness we can't help but share, while all the time haranguing him with all the humorous predicaments his malady makes possible. It WILL make you laugh, and if you have any heart it will also make you cry. Fantastic!

Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little further use in a changing world. Therefore a knight-errant who, contrary to his literary heroes, is aged fifty, skinny and a poor rural gentleman. Sancho Panza is a fat, illiterate, lying and married squire lacking the gentility and education associated with chivalrous apprenticeship. It is interesting to note that Don Quixote did not die with the literary genre it parodies but has become a classic text of western cultural tradition.

Not the best version available.., 26 Aug 2006
Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the stories of Don Quixote, but I found this translation far too poetical and long-winded to actually read. I realise that this specific version was written 200+ years ago and in some ways may perhaps stay more true to the original version, but I definitely think there are better, easier to follow editions available. Also, the book isn't exactly a pleasure to look at, though I suppose that's why it's so cheap to buy. I would go as far to say that if you want to truly understand and enjoy Don Quixote, you should read it in its original form. This translation is only really suitable for someone who might also have the Spanish version and wants to read the two.

Worthy of its reputation, 08 Apr 2006
A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.DON QUIXOTE is a must read which you should include with other must reads like UNION MOUJIK, WAR AND PEACE, GULLIVER'S TRAVEL,CANTERBURY TALES. One thing for sure is that this new translation of DON QUIXOTE will make it a popular story even with the young.

The original comedy double act, 07 Feb 2005
'DQ' is the story of an old man (Don Quixote) who, having read one too many books about knights of old, goes a little potty and starts believing that he is a knight. He ropes a hapless neighbour (Sancho Panza) into service as his squire and together they go off seeking adventure and fortune. Quixote's madness turns windmills into giants and flocks of sheep into armies, and a peasant woman into the princess for whom he performs his deeds. Along the way they meet a series of people, most of whom exploit Quixote's madness by playing practical jokes and sending him on fool's errands. All the while his friends and family try to entice him back to his home and away from his madness.
Quixote and Panza are the original comedy double act (stupid but thinks he is clever, and stupid but knows it, respectively), and the pair's exploits are genuinely funny. Much of the comedy is slapstick (them getting beaten black and blue) with a good dose of toilet humour thrown in. In addition there is some great dialogue, largely centring on Sancho's attempts at wisdom. This is not merely funny for a four hundred year old book, it is just plain funny. Sancho in particular is a brilliant creation, and the book becomes more about him than Quixote by the end. The first book describes their initial sorties, the second describes their travels after they had become famous (due to the publication of the first book). I like this blurring of fiction and reality, and 'DQ' is the earliest example that I have come across.
However, there are flaws in this book. Cervantes frequently uses the introduction of new characters to get side-tracked into unrelated narratives, which starts to get annoying because they add little or nothing to the book. Cervantes, to his credit, seems to have realised this because in the second book he chastises the fictional author if Quixote's history (called Cid Benengali Hamed) for these mistakes. In addition, the book is very long and it is sometimes hard to see what some of the episodes add to it. Cervantes style improves immeasurably in the second book, probably due to the criticisms of the first book that he himself outlines, so it is definitely worth persevering if you are struggling. By the end he even introduces a tragic element, which is beautifully told; well enough to leave a lump in the throat. Although it is largely comic, the novel definitely has some depth, largely due to the utter believability of its two main characters, who feel very familiar by the end. (In addition I would recommend the translation by Tobias Smollett, which is very accessible but retains the Olde Worlde feel of the setting very nicely). It is an excellent read, funny and vivid, and not at all intimidating despite its size and age. Go on, try it.

Why write a review at all?..., 06 Aug 2008
It seems almost facile to write a review of a book held up as one of the greatest ever written, but I simply want to add my voice to the other reviewers urging you to finally pick up this weighty book. It deserves the praise. Hilarious, tragic and insightful in equal measure, this book is unforgettable.

puzzling, 18 Jun 2008
This book is probably one of the most famous books ever written. It is 400 years old and appears to be about an silly old fool who suffers from delusions. Anyone who intends to read it would do well to read as many reviews as possible to try to get some idea as to what to expect from this book. I did all this and after reading six chapters I still came to the conclusion that it was a load of gibberish. At this point I was forced to stop and try to work out what on earth I was attempting to read. The stories are a load of idiotic nonsense. They are full of over-contrived violence which doesn't make any sense in the context of the story. It is only when you realise that Cervantes was in prison at the time of writing the first part of the book that you realise this is anti-government propaganda. Since in those days , free speech was accompanied by the chop; the absurdly contrived stories can be seen as symbolic rather than literal. There are numerous comparisons between Shakespeare and Cervantes but one thing comes across very clearly is that most of this book is perfectly readable and stories and the symbolism of the stories is perfectly understandable. Shakespeare is a load of poetic gibberish. In my opinion this book has survived for 400 years because it functions like a psychiatrist inkblot test; the reader simply fits their own personality to match the symbolism of the stories. For those who are prepared to read between the lines of this book, there is a most unusual opportunity to compare the attitudes of society 400 years ago with the attitudes of today. Cervantes was a soldier who was wounded fighting for his country. He worked as a tax collector and got put in prison for committing some unspecified offence. No allowance is made for the injuries received in the defence of his country; this fits very well with stories in today's newspapers. Clearly nothing much has changed in 400 years.
Another very interesting aspect of the book is that it shows the manner in which people reacted to Don Quixote's madness; in fact people react exactly the same as today. I always had the impression that people 400 years ago were very superstitious and believed in magic spells and monsters. This book shows that people had similar attitudes to this sort of thing as we do today; very different to the impression given by Shakespeare. Books of this period usually only give and insight into the lives of rich people; this book gives a considerable insight into the lives and attitudes of ordinary people.
What sparked my interest to read this book was the number of people who use the term `Quixotic'. I had an impression of what this meant based on what I had been taught at school ; however I was interested to try to discover what it really meant. All the definitions that I have read of Quixotic are different from each other ; why ? The Wikipedia definition is better than most ; but still a bit vague and waffley. After reading the book, my impression is that the book functions on too many levels for the term Quixotic to have any sensible meaning. Even the Wikipedia definition simply describes the superficial literal interpretation of the Quixote character. The Quixote character is symbolic and is intended as a criticism of government , social class / snobbery, morality, social conventions. The accepted definitions of Quixotic are based on a superficial understanding of the Quixote character which make the definitions meaningless.


Widely considered unfilmable. That's because it's rubbish. , 12 Feb 2008
Reading other reviews it appears that readers tend to like mulling over the novel Don Quixote over a period of time to fully savour the experience. I also took three months to read it, but that was because I struggled to motivate myself to read more than 10-20 pages at a time.

One major problem is the humour, which has not aged well. Most of the 900+ plus pages deal with the same joke, Don Quixote's insane belief that he is a brave knight errant, as described in medieval romances, told time and time again. Jokes are explained to death. Sancho Panza, Don Quixote's squire, whilst he does get some lines of dialogue that are still funny, is not the consistent earthly wit that some critics make him out to be. Often he is simply just plain stupid. Another problem is the structure. In Part One, the story often digresses into other narratives to which the relevance to Don Quixote is minimal at best. The tone of these stories is very different to the main narrative, romantic or tragic rather than `funny'. A third is the lack of realism in the main plot. Often Cervantes will describe a situation by saying that it was resolved, or that Sancho Panza was very amusing, or that Don Quixote demonstrated his insanity without describing how.

That is not to say that it is difficult to read. Edith Grossman's translation is easy to follow and would be a joy to read were it not for the subject matter. The other highlight for me was the section in part two where Sancho Panza was governor of an `insula' for ten days. This, for me, was a truly fine part of the novel, both in terms of interest and Panza's humour, which on this occasion was convincingly demonstrated.

It must also be said that the novel is historically interesting as am early attempt at a novel. As Johnson would have put, it is not that it was done well that is astonishing, but that it was done at all. The point for me, however, is that it was not done well, a point even acknowledged by Cervantes in several points of reference to Part One in Part Two (responding to complaints of digression and lack of continuity - particularly as regards the mysterious disappearance and appearance of Panza's donkey). That fact that it was done at all is of historical interest not of interest to the general reader. It certainly doesn't deserve Harold Bloom's praise of being the "finest modern novel".


a story well told, 20 Jul 2007
For decades I wondered what all the fuss was about. Don Quixote remained in my mind - a mystical figure from a closed literary genre of long ago. I browsed numerous editions from a multitude of publishers and translators, but could never get past the first chapter or two. Nonetheless something always drew me back to the knght who was misplaced in time, action and outlook.
Then I chanced upon Edith Grossman's translation, and came to realise that it's not the tale but the telling that makes a story.
Don Quixote leaps from the pages of this translation with a force that carries his doubtful but loyal squire Sancho Panza in its wake. This is an hilarious and serious work. It speaks of honour and ridicule and aspiration beyond one's means. And it was written 300 years ago. So what's new?
Read Don Quixote if you want to ponder timeless issues faced by every generation. Should you wish to read it without pain and in English, make sure you choose Edith Grossman's translation. It's a gift from the gods of literature.

A wonderful translation, and a heavy book, 02 Jul 2006
How can a person provide a review of one of the most important works of literature in the world? In my case, I don't think I can, but I can offer observations on what it felt like to read.

I first read Don Quixote in a previous translation, and finally made it through the first volume in a few months. It was like pulling teeth. I knew that it was a famous story, and techically interesting, but the first three hundred pages seemed like repetitive episodes of the same joke. It appeared little wonder that the most quoted chapter around tilting at windmills was the first one.

This time around, with Edith Grossman's translation, it was a great deal more enjoyable. The text flows beautifully, and where it is impossible to translate nuances or technical terms, she explains all in informative footnotes. For once, I can only agree with the publishers: it is the definitive translation.

This is well worth the effort of braving the initial episodes, and taking the time to read properly. For me, it's only after the famous events such as mistaking sheep for an approaching army and suchlike are out of the way, that the book becomes really interesting. There are fascinating novellas that dwell on relations with the Moors, and the perils of young love in the 16th Century, which are at least as good as the main text.

So, by all means, buy this version. Particularly the paperback. The hardback was too heavy to read in bed.

mad as a box of frogs, 11 Sep 2007
Ok I'm not particularly literey. I only read this as I needed a weighty novel for a summer working abroad but I found every page a joy and have never been so pleased to read anything in my life. Since then I can't stop recommending it to people and forcing them to read it. I've yet to find anybody that doesn't love this book once they've given it a chance.
The characters are wonderful and you'll develop genuine affection for them. The Stories and situations are as bizzare as they are funny. If Monty Python were to get together and rewrite chaucer this is the book they would come up with. Truly beguiling, Truly Funny, Warm, Witty and insane. This is widly regarded as one of and if not the greatest novel ever written. Can't reccommend it enough


An utter masterpiece!, 13 Mar 2007
This novel is a superlative piece of literature, at once eloquent and bawdy, poetic and brash, sweet and rude, traversing through all these contrasts with the delicate ease of a masterly author.

Gushing aside, it is the architypal rivetting read and, despite its huge size, it is divided into many small episodes that make it idea bedtime reading. This translation is excellent and very well researched - there are masses of notes and references at the back to explain the meaning and context of thousands of names, phrases, verses, songs and historical events mention in the book.

I doubt there is praise too lofty for this book. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Good knight Cervantes, 18 Oct 2006
Rutherford's introduction contains a fascinating account of the complexity of the translator's art and it is pleasing to note that this edition has received the recognition is deserves. The narrative flows with supreme ease, feels surprisingly modern whilst capturing its place in history (Spain c.1600). For me Cervantes has a Shakespearian ability to write a story that can exist, with joyful relevance, in any time and place: the legacy of a genius being his or her ability to live in the minds of countless succeeding generations. This is immortality. And the insane, hilarious, haphazard adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza deserve their place in the canon of world literature.

There is so much to enjoy in this tale of chivalry: Cervantes' voice, hidden beneath the narrators, teasing the reader with a fictional account of the history's origins; the digressions, tales of love and loss; Quixote's honourable delusions, metamorphosing his perception of reality (the windmills are the most famous example but there are many others); Panza's mercenary loyalty, his malapropisms interlaced with a stream of proverbs; friends and family; Rocinante and Sancho's `dun'; the imitable maiden Dulcinea. Ultimately I found the evolving relationship between knight errant and squire the most rewarding aspect of the book. The sensitivity in which Cervantes handles this friendship is beautifully drawn out and I was left with a feeling of unbridled love, compassion and affection. Never mind the difference in socials status, master and servant, these two heroes are equals. They suffer together (although Sancho always feels he comes off the worst), they share the same madness and naivety, and they witness the same mirages of the mind (the flying wooden horse scene is very funny). Such is the timeless authority of the humour that it came as no surprise to discover on pages 885-6 a remarkable resemblance to Monty Python's cheese shop sketch. One of the greatest reads I have experienced. Six stars!!!


Maybe the first, maybe the best!, 15 Mar 2005
This book is often referred to as the first modern novel, and written while Shakespeare was still putting on plays in the early 1600s, we can see why. It is also one of the best novels I've read, with some of the best characters in literature.

The story follows the Don as he sallies forth as a knight errant in search of adventure, to win honour and fortune. Unfortunately, Quixote is not a knight but rather an old man with an unravelled mind infected by the reading of too many medieval romances depicting such deeds. The stage is set for a hilarious tale of hallucination and misadventure. With Sancho Panza his loyal squire he takes on spirits, evil enchanters and most famously, of course, giants in the form of windmills.

As we follow the ingenious Hidalgo we find him increasingly endearing, his complete faith in everything he believes is disarmingly lovable while also humiliatingly funny. I found it a surprise that the comedy still holds up today, yet a man trying unsuccessfully against outlandish situations of his own making is very much a cornerstone of today's sitcoms and movies. The character is therefore a familiar one and immensely engaging. While we laugh at him, we can't help admiring his dedication and fearlessness, through this Don Quixote manages somehow to keep his dignity. Above all it is this characteristic that keeps our esteem for him so high.

Sancho Panza, the lovable squire begins very much as a simple companion, only there to highlight the absurdities of the situations invented by the Don himself, but the character grows artfully throughout the adventure becoming indispensable for his simple wit and practicality. This so at odds with the high-minded madman leads to great comedy as conflict and friendship mix to form a subtly growing relationship that provides the foundation of the story.

We also meet a whole host of characters during the course of the adventure, each with their own tale to tell. Using this, the author is able to entertain us with diverse digressions, and stories within stories that never allow the journey to get stale and boring.

A must, must, MUST read. Hilariously absurd throughout as adventure piles on adventure and a new tale unfolds with every character met. Cervantes is a talented entertainer that treats his noble creation with a tenderness we can't help but share, while all the time haranguing him with all the humorous predicaments his malady makes possible. It WILL make you laugh, and if you have any heart it will also make you cry. Fantastic!

Well presented, seems to be minor errors, 29 Jul 2008
(As a brief note, the following does include an extremely small quote from the story - as in a single paragraph. This is merely a warning for those who like to learn the ENTIRE story from the book - as I'd hate to be the one to ruin any part of it for you!)
This book is wonderfully presented, with great pictures throughout which capture the style and essence of the story well (of course, taking into account that it is a translation). It is unfortunate then, to find several mistakes. I have reached chapter 25, so far ignoring 'minor' errors such as missing letters; but in this chapter, and this is one point which threw me (so much so that I resorted to looking up the story on the internet), is the opening paragraph: "Don Quixote took leave of the goatherd and, remounting Rocinante bade Sancho follow him, which he did on his ass, most unwillingly". This does not make sense, since Sancho's ass was taken.
Although to some this seems finicky, I thought it was necessary to mention for potential buyers; there may well be more, other than the 'minor' errors already mentioned, further on or previous to this (I remained fairly dismissive of any possible discepencies and cannot recall if any arose previously).
These errors are a shame, given the potential the book has to be a truly great version.

Perfection , 26 Jan 2007
The first thing that strikes you is the beauty and grandeur of the physical book itself. Upon opening its pages, one is then met with exquisite paper covered in marvellous type-setting and unrivalled illustrations.
I have read Don Quixote before, but this translation is by far the best. It is modern enough to readily understand yet tinged with the flavour of its age. Ideal as a gift for someone you love or for your own enjoyment.
I re-read this edition on a regular basis and I am still enamoured of it.

A brilliant edition of a brilliant story, 28 Dec 2006
I received this edition as a present and was blown away by it. The book itself is beautiful. Very heavy, illustrated throughout with gold edged pages.

The story is regarded as the first, European novel but it needn't be read as anything ponderous or literary. It is firstly a book of adventure. A story of a man who aims to bring the Golden Days of chivalry back to the modern age and who is regarded by the world as being mad for doing so. People, situations and modernity thwart Don Quixote's efforts. Quixote imagines a world of giants, armies and beautiful courtiers but that world is really one of windmills, sheep and peasants. It's a story of aspirations, hopes and dreams and a story of how they fit into the real world.

Gustave Dore's drawings of 1863 are brilliant. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza's adventures are produced in dark images that add a seriousness to the ridiculous situations they get into. The comedy isn't portrayed as being cartoon like but grounded in reality. This is a perfect counterweight to Don Quixote's mad view which would seek to elevate reality to the mythical, romantic days of chivalry. Dore captures the spirit of Cervantes writing in every line.

This is an edition that is guarenateed to amaze. You really couldn't find fault with this book. I'm still stunned by it!!

Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little further use in a changing world. Therefore a knight-errant who, contrary to his literary heroes, is aged fifty, skinny and a poor rural gentleman. Sancho Panza is a fat, illiterate, lying and married squire lacking the gentility and education associated with chivalrous apprenticeship. It is interesting to note that Don Quixote did not die with the literary genre it parodies but has become a classic text of western cultural tradition.

Not the best version available.., 26 Aug 2006
Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the stories of Don Quixote, but I found this translation far too poetical and long-winded to actually read. I realise that this specific version was written 200+ years ago and in some ways may perhaps stay more true to the original version, but I definitely think there are better, easier to follow editions available. Also, the book isn't exactly a pleasure to look at, though I suppose that's why it's so cheap to buy. I would go as far to say that if you want to truly understand and enjoy Don Quixote, you should read it in its original form. This translation is only really suitable for someone who might also have the Spanish version and wants to read the two.

Worthy of its reputation, 08 Apr 2006
A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.DON QUIXOTE is a must read which you should include with other must reads like UNION MOUJIK, WAR AND PEACE, GULLIVER'S TRAVEL,CANTERBURY TALES. One thing for sure is that this new translation of DON QUIXOTE will make it a popular story even with the young.

The original comedy double act, 07 Feb 2005
'DQ' is the story of an old man (Don Quixote) who, having read one too many books about knights of old, goes a little potty and starts believing that he is a knight. He ropes a hapless neighbour (Sancho Panza) into service as his squire and together they go off seeking adventure and fortune. Quixote's madness turns windmills into giants and flocks of sheep into armies, and a peasant woman into the princess for whom he performs his deeds. Along the way they meet a series of people, most of whom exploit Quixote's madness by playing practical jokes and sending him on fool's errands. All the while his friends and family try to entice him back to his home and away from his madness.
Quixote and Panza are the original comedy double act (stupid but thinks he is clever, and stupid but knows it, respectively), and the pair's exploits are genuinely funny. Much of the comedy is slapstick (them getting beaten black and blue) with a good dose of toilet humour thrown in. In addition there is some great dialogue, largely centring on Sancho's attempts at wisdom. This is not merely funny for a four hundred year old book, it is just plain funny. Sancho in particular is a brilliant creation, and the book becomes more about him than Quixote by the end. The first book describes their initial sorties, the second describes their travels after they had become famous (due to the publication of the first book). I like this blurring of fiction and reality, and 'DQ' is the earliest example that I have come across.
However, there are flaws in this book. Cervantes frequently uses the introduction of new characters to get side-tracked into unrelated narratives, which starts to get annoying because they add little or nothing to the book. Cervantes, to his credit, seems to have realised this because in the second book he chastises the fictional author if Quixote's history (called Cid Benengali Hamed) for these mistakes. In addition, the book is very long and it is sometimes hard to see what some of the episodes add to it. Cervantes style improves immeasurably in the second book, probably due to the criticisms of the first book that he himself outlines, so it is definitely worth persevering if you are struggling. By the end he even introduces a tragic element, which is beautifully told; well enough to leave a lump in the throat. Although it is largely comic, the novel definitely has some depth, largely due to the utter believability of its two main characters, who feel very familiar by the end. (In addition I would recommend the translation by Tobias Smollett, which is very accessible but retains the Olde Worlde feel of the setting very nicely). It is an excellent read, funny and vivid, and not at all intimidating despite its size and age. Go on, try it.

Why write a review at all?..., 06 Aug 2008
It seems almost facile to write a review of a book held up as one of the greatest ever written, but I simply want to add my voice to the other reviewers urging you to finally pick up this weighty book. It deserves the praise. Hilarious, tragic and insightful in equal measure, this book is unforgettable.

puzzling, 18 Jun 2008
This book is probably one of the most famous books ever written. It is 400 years old and appears to be about an silly old fool who suffers from delusions. Anyone who intends to read it would do well to read as many reviews as possible to try to get some idea as to what to expect from this book. I did all this and after reading six chapters I still came to the conclusion that it was a load of gibberish. At this point I was forced to stop and try to work out what on earth I was attempting to read. The stories are a load of idiotic nonsense. They are full of over-contrived violence which doesn't make any sense in the context of the story. It is only when you realise that Cervantes was in prison at the time of writing the first part of the book that you realise this is anti-government propaganda. Since in those days , free speech was accompanied by the chop; the absurdly contrived stories can be seen as symbolic rather than literal. There are numerous comparisons between Shakespeare and Cervantes but one thing comes across very clearly is that most of this book is perfectly readable and stories and the symbolism of the stories is perfectly understandable. Shakespeare is a load of poetic gibberish. In my opinion this book has survived for 400 years because it functions like a psychiatrist inkblot test; the reader simply fits their own personality to match the symbolism of the stories. For those who are prepared to read between the lines of this book, there is a most unusual opportunity to compare the attitudes of society 400 years ago with the attitudes of today. Cervantes was a soldier who was wounded fighting for his country. He worked as a tax collector and got put in prison for committing some unspecified offence. No allowance is made for the injuries received in the defence of his country; this fits very well with stories in today's newspapers. Clearly nothing much has changed in 400 years.
Another very interesting aspect of the book is that it shows the manner in which people reacted to Don Quixote's madness; in fact people react exactly the same as today. I always had the impression that people 400 years ago were very superstitious and believed in magic spells and monsters. This book shows that people had similar attitudes to this sort of thing as we do today; very different to the impression given by Shakespeare. Books of this period usually only give and insight into the lives of rich people; this book gives a considerable insight into the lives and attitudes of ordinary people.
What sparked my interest to read this book was the number of people who use the term `Quixotic'. I had an impression of what this meant based on what I had been taught at school ; however I was interested to try to discover what it really meant. All the definitions that I have read of Quixotic are different from each other ; why ? The Wikipedia definition is better than most ; but still a bit vague and waffley. After reading the book, my impression is that the book functions on too many levels for the term Quixotic to have any sensible meaning. Even the Wikipedia definition simply describes the superficial literal interpretation of the Quixote character. The Quixote character is symbolic and is intended as a criticism of government , social class / snobbery, morality, social conventions. The accepted definitions of Quixotic are based on a superficial understanding of the Quixote character which make the definitions meaningless.


Widely considered unfilmable. That's because it's rubbish. , 12 Feb 2008
Reading other reviews it appears that readers tend to like mulling over the novel Don Quixote over a period of time to fully savour the experience. I also took three months to read it, but that was because I struggled to motivate myself to read more than 10-20 pages at a time.

One major problem is the humour, which has not aged well. Most of the 900+ plus pages deal with the same joke, Don Quixote's insane belief that he is a brave knight errant, as described in medieval romances, told time and time again. Jokes are explained to death. Sancho Panza, Don Quixote's squire, whilst he does get some lines of dialogue that are still funny, is not the consistent earthly wit that some critics make him out to be. Often he is simply just plain stupid. Another problem is the structure. In Part One, the story often digresses into other narratives to which the relevance to Don Quixote is minimal at best. The tone of these stories is very different to the main narrative, romantic or tragic rather than `funny'. A third is the lack of realism in the main plot. Often Cervantes will describe a situation by saying that it was resolved, or that Sancho Panza was very amusing, or that Don Quixote demonstrated his insanity without describing how.

That is not to say that it is difficult to read. Edith Grossman's translation is easy to follow and would be a joy to read were it not for the subject matter. The other highlight for me was the section in part two where Sancho Panza was governor of an `insula' for ten days. This, for me, was a truly fine part of the novel, both in terms of interest and Panza's humour, which on this occasion was convincingly demonstrated.

It must also be said that the novel is historically interesting as am early attempt at a novel. As Johnson would have put, it is not that it was done well that is astonishing, but that it was done at all. The point for me, however, is that it was not done well, a point even acknowledged by Cervantes in several points of reference to Part One in Part Two (responding to complaints of digression and lack of continuity - particularly as regards the mysterious disappearance and appearance of Panza's donkey). That fact that it was done at all is of historical interest not of interest to the general reader. It certainly doesn't deserve Harold Bloom's praise of being the "finest modern novel".


a story well told, 20 Jul 2007
For decades I wondered what all the fuss was about. Don Quixote remained in my mind - a mystical figure from a closed literary genre of long ago. I browsed numerous editions from a multitude of publishers and translators, but could never get past the first chapter or two. Nonetheless something always drew me back to the knght who was misplaced in time, action and outlook.
Then I chanced upon Edith Grossman's translation, and came to realise that it's not the tale but the telling that makes a story.
Don Quixote leaps from the pages of this translation with a force that carries his doubtful but loyal squire Sancho Panza in its wake. This is an hilarious and serious work. It speaks of honour and ridicule and aspiration beyond one's means. And it was written 300 years ago. So what's new?
Read Don Quixote if you want to ponder timeless issues faced by every generation. Should you wish to read it without pain and in English, make sure you choose Edith Grossman's translation. It's a gift from the gods of literature.

A wonderful translation, and a heavy book, 02 Jul 2006
How can a person provide a review of one of the most important works of literature in the world? In my case, I don't think I can, but I can offer observations on what it felt like to read.

I first read Don Quixote in a previous translation, and finally made it through the first volume in a few months. It was like pulling teeth. I knew that it was a famous story, and techically interesting, but the first three hundred pages seemed like repetitive episodes of the same joke. It appeared little wonder that the most quoted chapter around tilting at windmills was the first one.

This time around, with Edith Grossman's translation, it was a great deal more enjoyable. The text flows beautifully, and where it is impossible to translate nuances or technical terms, she explains all in informative footnotes. For once, I can only agree with the publishers: it is the definitive translation.

This is well worth the effort of braving the initial episodes, and taking the time to read properly. For me, it's only after the famous events such as mistaking sheep for an approaching army and suchlike are out of the way, that the book becomes really interesting. There are fascinating novellas that dwell on relations with the Moors, and the perils of young love in the 16th Century, which are at least as good as the main text.

So, by all means, buy this version. Particularly the paperback. The hardback was too heavy to read in bed.

mad as a box of frogs, 11 Sep 2007
Ok I'm not particularly literey. I only read this as I needed a weighty novel for a summer working abroad but I found every page a joy and have never been so pleased to read anything in my life. Since then I can't stop recommending it to people and forcing them to read it. I've yet to find anybody that doesn't love this book once they've given it a chance.
The characters are wonderful and you'll develop genuine affection for them. The Stories and situations are as bizzare as they are funny. If Monty Python were to get together and rewrite chaucer this is the book they would come up with. Truly beguiling, Truly Funny, Warm, Witty and insane. This is widly regarded as one of and if not the greatest novel ever written. Can't reccommend it enough


An utter masterpiece!, 13 Mar 2007
This novel is a superlative piece of literature, at once eloquent and bawdy, poetic and brash, sweet and rude, traversing through all these contrasts with the delicate ease of a masterly author.

Gushing aside, it is the architypal rivetting read and, despite its huge size, it is divided into many small episodes that make it idea bedtime reading. This translation is excellent and very well researched - there are masses of notes and references at the back to explain the meaning and context of thousands of names, phrases, verses, songs and historical events mention in the book.

I doubt there is praise too lofty for this book. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Good knight Cervantes, 18 Oct 2006
Rutherford's introduction contains a fascinating account of the complexity of the translator's art and it is pleasing to note that this edition has received the recognition is deserves. The narrative flows with supreme ease, feels surprisingly modern whilst capturing its place in history (Spain c.1600). For me Cervantes has a Shakespearian ability to write a story that can exist, with joyful relevance, in any time and place: the legacy of a genius being his or her ability to live in the minds of countless succeeding generations. This is immortality. And the insane, hilarious, haphazard adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza deserve their place in the canon of world literature.

There is so much to enjoy in this tale of chivalry: Cervantes' voice, hidden beneath the narrators, teasing the reader with a fictional account of the history's origins; the digressions, tales of love and loss; Quixote's honourable delusions, metamorphosing his perception of reality (the windmills are the most famous example but there are many others); Panza's mercenary loyalty, his malapropisms interlaced with a stream of proverbs; friends and family; Rocinante and Sancho's `dun'; the imitable maiden Dulcinea. Ultimately I found the evolving relationship between knight errant and squire the most rewarding aspect of the book. The sensitivity in which Cervantes handles this friendship is beautifully drawn out and I was left with a feeling of unbridled love, compassion and affection. Never mind the difference in socials status, master and servant, these two heroes are equals. They suffer together (although Sancho always feels he comes off the worst), they share the same madness and naivety, and they witness the same mirages of the mind (the flying wooden horse scene is very funny). Such is the timeless authority of the humour that it came as no surprise to discover on pages 885-6 a remarkable resemblance to Monty Python's cheese shop sketch. One of the greatest reads I have experienced. Six stars!!!


Maybe the first, maybe the best!, 15 Mar 2005
This book is often referred to as the first modern novel, and written while Shakespeare was still putting on plays in the early 1600s, we can see why. It is also one of the best novels I've read, with some of the best characters in literature.

The story follows the Don as he sallies forth as a knight errant in search of adventure, to win honour and fortune. Unfortunately, Quixote is not a knight but rather an old man with an unravelled mind infected by the reading of too many medieval romances depicting such deeds. The stage is set for a hilarious tale of hallucination and misadventure. With Sancho Panza his loyal squire he takes on spirits, evil enchanters and most famously, of course, giants in the form of windmills.

As we follow the ingenious Hidalgo we find him increasingly endearing, his complete faith in everything he believes is disarmingly lovable while also humiliatingly funny. I found it a surprise that the comedy still holds up today, yet a man trying unsuccessfully against outlandish situations of his own making is very much a cornerstone of today's sitcoms and movies. The character is therefore a familiar one and immensely engaging. While we laugh at him, we can't help admiring his dedication and fearlessness, through this Don Quixote manages somehow to keep his dignity. Above all it is this characteristic that keeps our esteem for him so high.

Sancho Panza, the lovable squire begins very much as a simple companion, only there to highlight the absurdities of the situations invented by the Don himself, but the character grows artfully throughout the adventure becoming indispensable for his simple wit and practicality. This so at odds with the high-minded madman leads to great comedy as conflict and friendship mix to form a subtly growing relationship that provides the foundation of the story.

We also meet a whole host of characters during the course of the adventure, each with their own tale to tell. Using this, the author is able to entertain us with diverse digressions, and stories within stories that never allow the journey to get stale and boring.

A must, must, MUST read. Hilariously absurd throughout as adventure piles on adventure and a new tale unfolds with every character met. Cervantes is a talented entertainer that treats his noble creation with a tenderness we can't help but share, while all the time haranguing him with all the humorous predicaments his malady makes possible. It WILL make you laugh, and if you have any heart it will also make you cry. Fantastic!

Well presented, seems to be minor errors, 29 Jul 2008
(As a brief note, the following does include an extremely small quote from the story - as in a single paragraph. This is merely a warning for those who like to learn the ENTIRE story from the book - as I'd hate to be the one to ruin any part of it for you!)
This book is wonderfully presented, with great pictures throughout which capture the style and essence of the story well (of course, taking into account that it is a translation). It is unfortunate then, to find several mistakes. I have reached chapter 25, so far ignoring 'minor' errors such as missing letters; but in this chapter, and this is one point which threw me (so much so that I resorted to looking up the story on the internet), is the opening paragraph: "Don Quixote took leave of the goatherd and, remounting Rocinante bade Sancho follow him, which he did on his ass, most unwillingly". This does not make sense, since Sancho's ass was taken.
Although to some this seems finicky, I thought it was necessary to mention for potential buyers; there may well be more, other than the 'minor' errors already mentioned, further on or previous to this (I remained fairly dismissive of any possible discepencies and cannot recall if any arose previously).
These errors are a shame, given the potential the book has to be a truly great version.

Perfection , 26 Jan 2007
The first thing that strikes you is the beauty and grandeur of the physical book itself. Upon opening its pages, one is then met with exquisite paper covered in marvellous type-setting and unrivalled illustrations.
I have read Don Quixote before, but this translation is by far the best. It is modern enough to readily understand yet tinged with the flavour of its age. Ideal as a gift for someone you love or for your own enjoyment.
I re-read this edition on a regular basis and I am still enamoured of it.

A brilliant edition of a brilliant story, 28 Dec 2006
I received this edition as a present and was blown away by it. The book itself is beautiful. Very heavy, illustrated throughout with gold edged pages.

The story is regarded as the first, European novel but it needn't be read as anything ponderous or literary. It is firstly a book of adventure. A story of a man who aims to bring the Golden Days of chivalry back to the modern age and who is regarded by the world as being mad for doing so. People, situations and modernity thwart Don Quixote's efforts. Quixote imagines a world of giants, armies and beautiful courtiers but that world is really one of windmills, sheep and peasants. It's a story of aspirations, hopes and dreams and a story of how they fit into the real world.

Gustave Dore's drawings of 1863 are brilliant. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza's adventures are produced in dark images that add a seriousness to the ridiculous situations they get into. The comedy isn't portrayed as being cartoon like but grounded in reality. This is a perfect counterweight to Don Quixote's mad view which would seek to elevate reality to the mythical, romantic days of chivalry. Dore captures the spirit of Cervantes writing in every line.

This is an edition that is guarenateed to amaze. You really couldn't find fault with this book. I'm still stunned by it!!

Knights with a twist, 26 Aug 2007
Alonso Quixone is a big fan of books on knights and chivalry before losing his sense and becoming convinced he is the knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. He had a thing for a country lass called Aldonza Lorenzo who he renames the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, as every knight needs a lady to do great deeds for. He sets out to seek adventure, taking along the dense local Sancho Panca as his squire.

His exploits include the famous incident where Don Quixote tilts against windmills mistaking them for giants, seeing many an inn as a castle, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs. Part one sees Don Quixote seeing things not as they seem and introducing the idea of enchantments against him. At the end of it they return home (after being tricked by some people from his town in costumes) and his family try to "cure" him by burning all his books and sealing the room they were stored in. It doesn't work and he sets out again with Sancho on more adventures. Part two sees a change in situation for the Don. A book of his earlier exploits has been published and his name is well known throughtout the country. He is taken advantage of by a Duke and Duchess among others who use his madness for sport. Sancho starts to overuse proverbs, but does finally get his position as govener of an island and prove his excellent judgement.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took ages to get through. It seemed like everytime I sat down to read it, I wouldn't get more than 30 pages further no matter how long I read for... It was worth the struggle though as the story is entertaining and well written. I started off laughing at the unfortunate pair, but later on I came to pity them both. The ending was very sad, mostly because Don Quixote recovered his wits. I recommend reading this, but maybe trying to read it over a longer period of time (the chapters are quite short).

The eternal classic, 31 Jan 2007
Don Quixote de la Mancha, the renowned, the valiant, the sage, the enamoured knight, the undoer of wrongs, the tutor of wards and orphans, the protector of widows, the destroyer of maids, he who owns no other mistress than the peerless Dulcinea del Taboso.
Cervantes is quite ironical with the picture of the knight embodied by the ridiculous but none the less moving character of Don Quixote. In a historical perspective one has to consider that the last book of chivalry was published in Spain in 1602 and Don Quixote was completed in 1615. The reading public at that time was thus quite ready to laugh at the fictional world of knights, castles, giants and dwarfs, enchantment and trials by ordeal. The publication of Don Quixote coincided with the realisation that the medieval military caste had little fur