Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Don Quixote. Gift book bound in leather

"Don Quixote"

The images of Don Quixote and his faithful squire have inspired and continue to inspire a variety of artists for more than two centuries, but the works of Tony Joanno and Gustave Dore are still recognized as the most profound. "Don Quixote" has long been more than just a book to read. According to the results of a survey conducted in 2002 by the Nobel Institute in Oslo, famous writers from fifty-four countries of the world recognized the novel "Don Quixote" as the best literary work in the history of mankind. It is said that King Philip III once noticed from the balcony a young man who was walking with a book on the bank of the Manzanares River. The young man stopped every minute, gesticulated, slapped his forehead with his fist and laughed loudly. Philip watched his pantomime for a while, and then exclaimed: "Either this student is crazy, or he is reading Don Quixote!" (The astute king guessed: the young man really read a novel by Cervantes.) Unfortunately, it did not occur to the king to think about why the author of such a popular and beloved book lives in poverty and oblivion. Cervantes, this great man, paid with the misfortune of a lifetime for the belated happiness of posthumous fame. He did not have to enjoy either success or wealth. The chaplain of the Archbishop of Toledo, after reading the novel, noticed: "If he (Cervantes) is forced to write by need, then God grant that he will never be rich, so that, while remaining poor, he will enrich the whole world!" In this edition, the novel "Don Quixote "is published in the classic translation by M. Watson and V. Karelin, about which V. Belinsky wrote:"The translation is made from the original, and we can safely guarantee that it is without any changes and distortions." There are also detailed comments that will help you to dive deeper into the atmosphere of Spain of the XVII century, better understand the satirical tone of the work and appreciate the high artistic merits of the novel.