~ 1605 ~
Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes is an epic Spanish novel first published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. It is considered a founding work of Western literature and is often referred to as the first modern novel and one of the greatest works ever written. The book has influenced the literary community and has been referenced in later works, including Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers and Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. The plot follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, a hidalgo from La Mancha who, after reading too many chivalric romances, goes mad and becomes a knight-errant named Don Quixote de la Mancha.