On 9 October 1547, Miguel de Cervantes, “Prince of Geniuses”, the fourth of seven children born to Rodrigo de Cervantes and Leonor de Cortinas, was baptised at Santa María la Mayor Parish Church in Alcalá de Henares. A life of poverty did not prevent him from becoming the most universal of writers in Castilian Spanish and the best read of all time, with his novel Don Quixote. As an enlisted infantry soldier he took part in many campaigns and was wounded at the battle of Lepanto. He was held captive in Algiers and was in prison in Seville and Valladolid. He was driven by debts and lack of recognition to enter the Espírtu Santo Convent and the Third Order of the Franciscans. He died before his favourite work was published: “Los trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda”.
-
El retablo de las maravillas
Moralising interlude by Miguel de Cervantes in which he adapts the Oriental story of the Emperor's new clothes.
More info -
La Galatea
A pastoral novel by Cervantes that conceals a deeper study of the psychology of love.
More info -
The Baths of Algiers
This comedy by Cervantes, in which he presents his view of the Moorish world on foot of his captivity in Algiers, was never premiered.
More info -
Persiles and Sigismunda
This is a chivalric romance by Miguel de Cervantes in which he narrates the fantastical adventures of ‘Persiles’ and ‘Sigismunda’.
More info -
Exemplary Novels
A collection of short novels of a moralising character written by Miguel de Cervantes between 1590 and 1612.
More info