Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
- Born:
- September 29, 1547, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Died:
- April 22, 1616 (buried April 23), Madrid, Spain
- Nationality:
- Spanish
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Poet, Playwright
Early Life and Education
- Little is definitively known about Cervantes' early education.
- He may have studied with the Jesuits in either Cordoba or Seville.
- He served as a soldier in the Spanish infantry from 1569.
Career and Major Achievements
- Fought in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, where he was wounded, losing the use of his left hand.
- Captured by Barbary pirates in 1575 and held captive in Algiers for five years.
- Worked as a purveyor for the Spanish Armada and later as a tax collector.
- Began his literary career with plays and poems.
- His masterpiece, Don Quixote, is considered one of the most important works of world literature. Don Miguel de Cervantes Y Saavedra Biografia, especially the impact of the work, continues to be studied widely.
Notable Works
- La Galatea (1585)
- Don Quixote (Part 1, 1605; Part 2, 1615)
- Novelas Ejemplares (1613)
- Viaje del Parnaso (1614)
- Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda (1617, posthumously)
Legacy and Impact
Cervantes' Don Quixote revolutionized the novel form and is widely regarded as the first modern novel. His work continues to inspire writers and artists and is celebrated for its humor, satire, and profound insights into human nature.