Miguel de Cervantes - Collected Works, incl. Don Quixote (22 book...

* Miguel de Cervantes - Collected Works, incl. Don Quixote (22 books)

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA (1547–1616) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. Much of his life was spent in relative poverty and obscurity, which led to many of his early works being lost. Despite this, his influence and literary contribution are reflected by the fact that Spanish is often referred to as "the language of Cervantes".

His crowning achievement, DON QUIXOTE (1605, 1615), revolutionized narrative fiction by dismantling the popular, outdated genre of chivalric romances. The narrative follows Alonso Quixano, an elderly country gentleman who reads so many tales of knights that his brain dries up, prompting him to rename himself Don Quixote of La Mancha and set out to revive knight-errantry. Alongside his illiterate, pragmatic squire, Sancho Panza, Quixote mistakes windmills for giants and inns for enchanted castles. Cervantes structured the novel in two distinct parts published a decade apart; the second part brilliantly incorporates metafiction, as the characters become aware that a book has been written about their previous exploits. Through this dynamic duo, Cervantes explores the tragicomic tension between noble idealism and harsh reality, crafting what is universally recognized as the world's first modern novel.

Cervantes also pioneered the short story format in Spain with his collection, EXEMPLARY NOVELS (1613). This anthology consists of twelve novellas written over several years, which Cervantes proudly claimed were the first original short stories written in the Castilian language, rather than mere translations from Italian models. It is celebrated for its narrative variety, shifting effortlessly from gritty, underworld realism to elevated, courtly romance. Serving as a masterful coda to the collection is DIALOGUE OF THE DOGS (1613), a highly satirical novella that pushes the boundaries of literary realism through a supernatural lens. The story centers on two dogs, Cipión and Berganza, who guard a hospital in Valladolid and suddenly find themselves gifted with human speech for a single night. Cervantes uses the canine perspective to deliver a biting, picaresque critique of human hypocrisy, social corruption, and the deceptive nature of language itself.

His deeply traumatic memories of captivity by Barbary pirates in Algiers heavily influenced his dramatic output, most notably in the plays THE BAGNIOS OF ALGIERS (1615) and THE GREAT SULTANA (1615). The former offers a visceral, episodic look at the daily suffering, psychological torment, and religious temptations faced by Christian prisoners inside the crowded prison houses (bagnios) of North Africa. Conversely, the latter takes a more exotic, courtly approach, focusing on a captive Spanish woman who captures the heart of the Ottoman Sultan. Both plays navigate the complex, high-stakes cultural and religious boundaries of the early modern Mediterranean world.

In his final days, facing failing health, Cervantes poured his remaining energy into completing THE TRIALS OF PERSILES AND SIGISMUNDA (1617). Published posthumously, this sweeping Byzantine epic romance follows two royal lovers from Nordic regions who disguise themselves as siblings and embark on a perilous pilgrimage to Rome to secure their marriage. Cervantes considered this intricate, high-adventure romance to be his absolute masterpiece, believing it would surpass the fame of his famous knight. While history ultimately chose otherwise, this final work stands as a testament to his unmatched narrative ambition and his lifelong dedication to exploring the limits of human imagination.


The following books are in ePUB and/or PDF format as indicated:

* The Bagnios of Algiers and The Great Sultana [tr. Fuchs & Ilika] (Pennsylvania, 2010) – ePUB / PDF
* Complete Works (Delphi Classics, 2013) – ePUB
* Dialogue of the Dogs [tr. Kipen] (Melville House, 2008) – ePUB
* Don Quijote [tr. Raffel] (Norton Critical Edition, 1999) – PDF
* Don Quixote [tr. Grossman] (Ecco, 2021) – ePUB
* Don Quixote [tr. Jarvis] (Oxford, 2008) – ePUB / PDF
* Don Quixote [tr. Lathrop] (Signet, 2011) – ePUB
* Don Quixote [tr. Montgomery] (Hackett, 2009) – ePUB / PDF
* Don Quixote [tr. Ormsby] (Open Road, 2017) – ePUB
* Don Quixote [tr. Putnam] (Modern Library, 1998) – ePUB
* Don Quixote [tr. Rutherford] (Penguin, 2003) – ePUB
* Don Quixote [tr. Smollett] (S&S, 2009) – ePUB
* Exemplary Novellas [tr. Harney] (Hackett, 2016) – ePUB / PDF
* Exemplary Novels [tr. Grossman] (Yale, 2016) – ePUB / PDF
* Exemplary Novels [tr. Kelly] (Duke Classics, 2015) – ePUB
* Exemplary Novels, Vol. I [tr. Ife et al.] (Aris & Phillips, 1992) – PDF
* Exemplary Novels, Vol. II [tr. Price] (Aris & Phillips, 1992) – PDF
* Exemplary Stories [tr. Jones] (Penguin, 2006) – ePUB
* Exemplary Stories [tr. Lipson] (Oxford, 1998) – PDF
* The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote [tr. Smollett] (Georgia, 2014) – PDF
* Portable Cervantes [ed. Putnam] (Penguin, 1976) – ePUB
* The Trials of Persiles and Sigismunda [tr. Weller & Colahan] (California, 1989) – PDF


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