Part One of Don Quixote was published in 1605, and Part Two in 1615. His first significant novel, titled La Galatea, was published in 1585, but he continued to work as a purchasing agent, and later as government tax collector. He served as a soldier until 1575, when he was captured by Barbary pirates after five years in captivity, he was ransomed, and returned to Madrid.

In 1570, he enlisted in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment, and was badly wounded at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571. In 1569, Cervantes was forced to leave Spain and move to Rome, where he worked in the household of a cardinal. Īn incident in the story of Don Quixote (1870), by Robert Hillingford. Despite this, his influence and literary contribution are reflected by the fact that Spanish is often referred to as 'the language of Cervantes'. Much of his life was spent in poverty and obscurity, which led to many of his early works being lost. A 2002 poll of around 100 well-known authors voted it the 'most meaningful book of all time', from among the 'best and most central works in world literature'. He is best known for his novel Don Quixote, a work often cited as both the first modern novel and 'the first great novel of world literature'. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( Spanish: 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 NS) was an Early Modern Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. (writing was an avocation which did not produce much income) Soldier, tax collector, accountant, purchasing agent for Navy Ĭonvent of the Barefoot Trinitarians, Madrid No authenticated image of Cervantes exists. This portrait, attributed to Juan de Jáuregui, is unauthenticated.

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