Don Quixote in Two Volumes

6W Miguel de Cervantes. London: The Nonesuch Press, 1930. Reprint of the seventh edition of Peter Motteux’s translation. 

Notes

Don Quixote, first published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, is the celebrated novel by Miguel de Cervantes and is often regarded as one of the first modern works of fiction. The story follows Alonso Quixano, a man so enamored with tales of chivalry that he reinvents himself as the knight Don Quixote, setting out on misguided adventures with his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Blending humor, satire, and moments of poignancy, the novel explores themes of illusion and reality, idealism and practicality, while gently mocking the outdated traditions of chivalric romance. Its innovative narrative style and complex characters have ensured its enduring place as a cornerstone of world literature.

Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) was a Spanish writer whose life included military service, captivity, and financial hardship, experiences that informed the depth and realism of his work. Writing during Spain’s Golden Age, Cervantes brought a new level of psychological insight and narrative experimentation to fiction. Don Quixote became his most famous work, achieving widespread recognition both during his lifetime and in the centuries that followed. Today, it is regarded as one of the most influential novels ever written, shaping the development of the modern novel and continuing to resonate with readers around the world.

Description

Leather binding. Five raised bands with gilt lettering to spine. Special edition printing on hand made paper limited to 1475 copies of which this is 637. Housed in slipcase. Fine condition.