Book Review: ‘Don Quixote’ by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman
We all know the basic story of Don Quixote: crazy rich guy with too much time on his hands, fancies himself a knight, and tears across the countryside fighting pretend bad guys and making trouble for himself and everyone else. But how many of us have actually read it? I’m guessing not many. I myself love books and have been constantly reading since I was a little girl, and I’ve never bothered to read it. Until now. It might be a daunting, dare I say quixotic task to read Miguel de Cervantes’ legendary work, but I argue it’s worth it.
[Warning: My review of Don Quixote (a 400-year-old book…) contains some spoilers!]
Just who is Don Quixote?
Even 400 years ago, the idea of Knights riding around on horseback saving the day was seen as outdated and antiquated. So when a lesser lord has a midlife crisis, it’s hilarious that he becomes obsessed with knights and chivalry. He learns all he can about them from old texts, then decides to become one. He gives himself a new name, transforms a local girl into a noble lady to pine after, and believes his tired old horse is a noble steed. Then he drags a local farmer into his obsession as his squire, and he’s all set for adventures.
However, the world isn’t all set for him. It’s been a very long time since knights roamed the countryside righting wrongs (if they ever really did), and the people Don Quixote comes across aren’t sure what to make of him. Most of the people he meets humor him the way we would humor the local crazy guy. They play along with his story just to get him out of their hair before sending him on his way. But some of the people Don Quixote meets take offense at the things he says and does. One way or another, his adventures tend to end with trouble for Don Quixote, and he returns home, tail between his legs, until he sets off once again for adventure!
What makes Miguel de Cervantes’ novel so important?
Any book that has been around for multiple centuries and remains relevant must have done something right. Don Quixote is the prime example of this. And that’s prime as in first, not prime as good, although it is good too! Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel. Miguel de Cervantes is the first author to turn away from the standard narrative form of storytelling. Instead, he wove a tale driven by complex characters interacting with one another.
By blurring the lines between reality and fantasy for Don Quixote, de Cervantes invites the reader to reflect on their own reality. Are our problems really as big as we think they are, or are we just tilting at windmills like Don Quixote? Conversely, are we really as important as we think we are? By laughing at the absurdity of Don Quixote, readers can laugh at themselves a little as well.
400 years and Don Quixote is still readable
And there is a lot of laughing in Don Quixote. As much as Don Quixote is important for changing literature, it is important for still being readable. I have tried to read a wide range of classics over the years, and to be honest, I have found them unappealing. Most have great stories in them, and usually, there are some good characters, but the presentation doesn’t translate well to modern times. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when my editor assigned me this task. I really didn’t want to read Don Quixote. However, I soon began reading it, and I found myself laughing within a few pages. Much to my surprise, de Cervantes reached out across 400 years and connected with me. Some of this is down to Edith Grossman’s wonderful translation, of course. She does a wonderful job with de Cervantes’ words. However, most of it is, of course, thanks to Cervantes himself. He was genuinely funny, and he created so many genuinely funny situations for Don Quixote. The humor endures through the centuries and continues to entertain readers even today. The pure bewilderment of the people Don Quixote comes across is hilarious, and I can just imagine that people would respond in much the same way if they met him today.
A long and enjoyable journey
Don Quixote is an enormous book. Originally published in two parts, a decade apart, Don Quixote is now typically published as a single volume. My translation is 940 pages long and could easily be used for home defense. I know that such a long story isn’t for everyone. However, Cervantes is such a witty writer that it doesn’t feel as long as it is. I don’t usually recommend people bother reading the original classics. I often suggest Cliffnotes to be perfectly honest. However, I believe that readers who enjoy humorous situations will thoroughly enjoy reading Don Quixote. If you have some spare time, check out de Cervantes’ original work because there is no way that a theatrical version can hit on everything in such a large narrative.
My Rating: 8/10
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, translated by Edith Grossman, is available now for purchase! Have you read this novel before? What did you think of the Mad Knight’s wacky adventures? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all major social media platforms!
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