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The Making of a Madman

The story starts out simply enough. After reading a great many chivalric tales—having sold much of his land to obtain the volumes—a 50-year-old gentleman of La Mancha loses his reason. As Edward de Sousa reads, "The world of disorderly notions flooded his imagination."

Having lost his understanding, Don Quixote throws himself into the romantic adventure of knight-errantry. He prepares himself for his adventure by gathering: Sancho Panza, a squire (formerly his neighbor); Rozinante, a trusty steed (a worn-out horse); and Dulcinea de Tobosa, his lady (a poor girl, who doesn't even know Don Quixote exists).

The story continues with Don Quixote facing repeated misadventures, as he courts disaster. In many works, the experiences of a man like Don Quixote would probably appear tragic. He's repeatedly beaten, chased away, lied to, and misunderstood. What would seem particularly tragic is the fact that all of his books are destroyed, and his loved ones think him mad...

Well, he is quite out of his mind, but in the hands of Cervantes, these events are comic.

The History of the Tale

"Don Quixote," by Miguel de Cervantes, was the first European novel. It was not the first work of Cervantes, nor was it his last... But, it was his best. Part 1 of the novel was published in 1605, when Cervantes was 58. Part 2 was published in 1615, just one year before Cervantes died.

Cervantes' first attempt at writing fiction was "La Galatea," a pastoral novel that was published in 1585. He also created at least 12 plays, and at least 8 farces. Despite his many literary endeavors, Cervantes was imprisoned more than once because of his debts, and he continually struggled to make a living by writing. Even after "Don Quixote" became popular, that success didn't translate to much monetary gain.

With "Don Quixote," Cervantes created a lasting legacy, one that is reproduced here. Edward de Souza introduces you to the life and achievements of Don Quixote, carrying us through to the end. Along the way, we are entertained by the events in the life of Don Quixote, but also by the music that accompanies the reading (especially appropriate, since it's from the Spanish Renaissance and from the time of Boccaccio's "Decamerone"). In the end, the story is really about a man who lost his way in search of adventure, and finally finds it before his death.