Don Quixote (Penguin Classics edition)

Don Quixote: A Book that Exceeds Expectations

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is an outstanding novel that engages the reader in ways no other novel has accomplished. The Story is centered on a Middle aged man named Alonzo Quixano, from the region of La Mancha, who enjoys reading books of chivalry. He eventually becomes so obsessed with these stories that he reads so many until he puts it upon himself to become a Knight-errant to defeat the wicked and defend the helpless. He names himself Don Quixote de la Mancha (Sir Thighpiece) and finds himself a nag and names it Rocinante (Hackafore) and swears an oath to Dulcinea del Toboso, a peasant women that he labels as a princess. He convinces his local Sancho Panza to follow him as a faithful Squire, promising to make him a wealthy governor of an isle.
The book is divided into two separate parts, with Part I being published first and Cervantes later publishing Part II. In the story many of the characters have read Part I, making the story even more interesting and entertaining. Throughout the novel the reader follows Don Quixote and Sancho as they go on many adventures throughout Spain, creating mischief as they run around in their fantasy world. Don Quixote and Sancho go around Spain attacking random citizens for insulting Don Quixote, stealing and committing acts in the name Dulcinea. For every wrong Don Quixote does he makes an excuse that he was blinded by an enchanter and as Sancho takes the heat for his actions. Don Quixote has many famous recognizable adventures such as Don Quixote's attack upon the windmills, mistaking them for giants, or when he is tricked and frees a devious galley slave. Or the time when he sees a herd of sheep moving down the desert, and he mistakes them for an army as he charges and ensures carnage upon the sheep.
I think this was a outstanding book that kept the reader interested all the way through. Cervantes writing style helps enhance the story as it engages the reader with an different writing style. Personally, I like Part I better than Part II, because throughout Part I Don Quixote is reckless and basically does whatever he wants stating that because he's a knight-errant he can basically do what he wants. While in the Second Part he becomes wiser not striking out when he becomes angry or insulted; not being as crazy and reckless. I would recommend this book to anyone even though it is a long book; it is completely worth it as you read about the comical and enchanting tales of Don Quixote de La Mancha.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

The magic is all in the writing style.

I was very fortunate to have randomly chosen what I consider to be the best translation, by John Rutherford. Alas, I cannot read Spanish, least of all the 17th-century variety, but I believe that Mr. Rutherford may be capturing the enchantment of the writing itself better than any other. Unfortunately, through a technical glitch B&N readers are not able to compare translations (I would have been so interested to see the one by Tobias Smollett), since only the Edith Grossman one is featured on the web site, regardless of whichever edition the prospective buyer clicks on.

The Grossman may be the most accurate, but it's also rather dry, more modern, more utilitarian, while the Rutherford is more poetic and a whole lot more fun, though much more archaic in style. Compare just the first paragraph of Chapter I. In Grossman's description of the Don's lifestyle, "He had a housekeeper past forty, a niece not yet twenty." Well, here is Rutherford's version: "He maintained a housekeeper on the wrong side of forty, a niece the right side of twenty..." And on it goes.

I find that the best way to enjoy this classic is not to look for a gripping plot or high drama, which you are not likely to find -- wasn't that just what drove the old guy crazy in the first place? -- but to pick a translation (or, of course, to read the original, if you are so fortunate) that will captivate you, and let it sail you right through this huge work on a magic carpet of comedic lyricism.

In any case, this book is a real beauty, a wonderful place to spend your time!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

NOt so much

it only had book one!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not the Edith Grossman translation

I think the translation is great, but it is not the Edith Grossman translation as stated in the Publisher's comments. This translation is by John Ormsby.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Classic Tale

I can see why Cervantes's Don Quixote has left its mark through out the ages. It is the purely the definition of a classic."For what I want of Dulcinea del Toboso she is as good as the greatest princess in the land.For not all those poets who praise ladies under names which they choose so freely, really have such mistresses. . . .I am quite satisfied. . . to imagine and believe that the good Aldonza Lorenzo is so lovely and virtuous(Chapter xxv)."This is probably one of my most favorite quotes from the novel Don Quixote which I truley enjoyed. The way he shapes his lines and the almost perfect word choice makes it new to me every time I read it. This quote also brings up a good point about the novel. His love for Dulcinea. We never really even meet her in the book but to him he is the reason for most of his acts. He tries to show chivalry but usually fails terribly. In these parts of the novel I found it almost funny. Sometimes I think he was trying to put a little satire into it which made it an interesting read. On the other hand it showed his seriousness and morals because he wanted to prove his love for her to everyone he met.
As well, I like the fact that it was generally easy to read. I had my doubts about reading it in the first place because of its age and how it had been translated into Spanish beforehand. When I began reading it I realized it was very enjoyable and flowed nicely. I would definitely reccomend it to anyone who likes a good classic read with great word choice. A book that from the looks of it wouldnt really make you think that much until you look inside the things he is trying to imply. Adults and teenagers alike could really enjoy this book for the same aspects of different ones but either way it was a great book. I loved it!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

highly entertaining novel

This novel is very long! Well worth the time and price. Strongly reccomended!

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Don Quixote- A timeless epic

Don Quixote definitely backs up the claim that Miguel de Cervantes is the best author in the history of Spanish literature. In Don Quixote, Cervantes wonderfully illustrates the idea of romanticism and chivalry by narrating the tale of an old knight. This novel highlights the idea that we all wish we could be knights. We all wish we could fight evil and protect goodness. Don Quixote is persecuted because, unlike the rest of the world, he actually pursues his fantastic dreams of knight-errantry. He decides to go out into the world to do what he thinks is right, and to achieve a little infamy. He acquires a squire named Sancho, and together they have some outlandish adventures. Don Quixote battles with sheep, attacks innocent barbers, and fights with a few evildoers. Don Quixote does some evil things himself, but in his mind, he is the champion for the oppressed. He always maintains that he is in the right, and he always seems happy with this role as hero. Eventually he is forced to resign from fighting evil by Samson the scholar. Samson defeats him in battle, and Don Quixote relinquishes his position as savior of all things good. He seems to experience a catharsis at the end of the novel, when he signs his will 'Alonzo Quijada' instead of 'Don Quixote de la Mancha'. This event hints at the idea that he knew all along what he was doing. He seems to realize that he was not a hero, and that his dreams were crushed. He was wrong though to think he was not a famous knight errant, and it is a shame he died in such a state of mind. It just goes to show that most famous people never become famous in their lifetime, only after they die do they receive the glory they deserve. Even though Don Quixote was a fictional character, that does not mean that he should not receive the same respect as any dead hero. He may not have saved any damsels in distress, or slain any dragons, or killed any wizards; but he did inspire romance in the hearts of readers around the world for almost five centuries. He goes back to La Mancha and dies a sad, unsatisfying death. This is where the novel itself creates some irony. Don Quixote wanted to become a knight, one who is written about in tales of chivalry. What better way to achieve this limelight than to be the main character in a novel that is arguably the best piece of Spanish Literature ever written. Through all of his misadventures and all of his criticisms, he is not so crazy when you think about it. He does become the most famous knight in the world. He does inspire others to follow in his footsteps. Don Quixote de la Mancha could be considered a hero after all, in fact one of the greatest romantic heroes. Cervantes wrote Don Quixote as a satire to the books of chivalry of that time period, but it turned out to be much more than a satire. It turned out to be a novel symbolic of romance and chivalry, the opposite of Cervantes' intention. Now, people who have this same dedication to romance, chivalry, and the fight against evil are described as Quixotic, a testament to an eternal novel, Don Quixote.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Deserves one hundred stars

This novel is towering, an absolute powerhouse. It is also one of the funniest books I have ever read. There are not many books I would have the desire to read again but this is one of them, only for the sheer enjoyment of it. Don Quixote is one of the most original characters ever set on paper. He and Sancho are just hysterically funny. You will enjoy every minute of this novel. If you don't read it, you are missing out.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Worthy of its reputation

A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Worthy of its reputation

A pleasurable book to read,this translation of DON QUIXOTE made the story easy to understand, and for every reason it stands up to its reputaion as the best-loved novel. Confronting the conventions of Spanish society at his time some four hundred years ago, the author wittily and funnily exposes the folies of the time through the adventures , stories and misfortunes of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.In a broader sense it is the forerunner off other situations where individuals, communities or systems live a complete lie.This is truely an amazing book, one that you won't want to put down once you have started.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Easy Read, Great Book

This truely is the best novel ever written. I read some reviews complaining that Edith Grossman's translation was too wordy for a less than mature reader. Well, if you can read Dickens then this book is not too wordy for you. Get it, read it, love it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

DQ: The latest translation

Absolutely brilliant translation - the only one that has overcome the difficulties of the language and has bothered to and very succesfully transferred Cervantes' wit to our modern-day sense of humour and fun. Very highly recommended if interested in the English version.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

wonderful classic

This is one of those classics that is a must read.

Don Quixote 5 Stars, Barnes and Noble 0 Stars

1) This book was advertised with the wrong translator.

didn't want

I didn.t order and can.t seem to cancel it!!

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

yuck

horrible typos ignore the people, if any, thaat say it is good. impossible to read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This eBook is miss titled

I want Don Quixote but got Donne's Poetry - the title on the book image is correct, but the listing states that this is Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's Don Quixote and that is not what I received. Please fix ASAP - I need the spark notes for Cervantes, not Donne's Poetry.

Hilarious book - good storytelling

Don Quixote is a wonderfully funny book about an old man whose brain has dried up because of such immersion in medieval fairytales and is determined to spend the rest of his life as the knight he has dubbed himself. He and his best friend, Sancho Panza, who is not quite as crazy as the protagonist,go out and save the world from what the audience might think is a harmless thing, but is a threat to humanity to Don Quixote.

I need some help

Grossman rules, BUT, after reaching page 250, I decided that I could not plow through another 650+ pages of misadventures in the countryside. I feel guilty. Scholars declare this is the greatest novel ever, but I stop after rounding first base. I need someone to help make this book more meaningful for me. This is not an isolated problem. I just 'plowed' through Moby Dick for the first time in 40 years and said at the end, 'So what?' So you can see that I am in need. Next on my list of classics is Martin Chuzzlewit, another 900-pager. But if it is anything like Pickwick Papers (and not Bleak House), it could be fun.

This book OWNZ!

This book was great I really loved it. It only took me about 1 1/2 weeks to read the book. IT IS GREAT! I also recommened other great classics and Left Behind:... Series for all AGES! And I'm only 14 so read this book if I can read it so can YOU!