Don Quixote was originally named El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha

For those who have not heard about the famed Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, it is a Spanish epic novel that was originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615. The novel is considered as a founding work of western literature, it is often labelled as the first modern novel and one of the greatest works ever written.

Don Quixote is one of the most-translated books in the world – it has been translated into over 80 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. The first translation of Don Quixote was into French in 1614, and the first English translation was in 1612. It is also one of the best-selling novels of all time.

Popular English translations

The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-Errant Don Quixote of the Mancha by Thomas Shelton (1612); The Adventures of Don Quixote by John Ormsby (1885); Don Quixote by Edith Grossman (2003); Don Quixote by Burton Raffel (1995). The best translation of Don Quixote is a matter of opinion, and therefore, is no single translation that is universally accepted as the best. Besides the full translations, there have also been many abridged translations. These abridged translations are often shorter and easier to read.

What is it about?

The plot revolves around the adventures of a member of the lowest nobility, a hidalgo[e] from La Mancha named Alonso Quijano, who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his mind and decides to become a knight-errant (caballero andante) to revive chivalry and serve his nation, under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. He recruits as his squire a simple farm labourer, Sancho Panza, who brings a unique, earthy wit to Don Quixote’s lofty rhetoric.

5 lesser known facts

1.       The name Don Quixote is a pun on the Spanish words quijote (meaning splinter) and loco (meaning mad). The word ‘quixotic’ is derived from the name Don Quixote and is used to describe someone who is idealistic and impractical.

2.       The character of Don Quixote is based on a real person, Alonso Quijano, who lived in La Mancha, Spain.

3.       Cervantes wrote Don Quixote while he was in prison.

4.       Don Quixote has been adapted into many different forms, including films, television shows, operas, and ballets.

5.       The most famous adaptation of Don Quixote is the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha, which premiered in 1965.

 A mouthful for a title

Don Quixote was originally named El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha. Quite a mouthful right? But there is an adage: There is a method in madness. The title reflects the character and the themes of the novel.

El Ingenioso Hidalgo: This part of the title translates to The Ingenious Gentleman. It highlights the main character, Don Quijote, and his imaginative and creative nature. Despite his somewhat delusional and eccentric behavior, Don Quijote is portrayed as a nobleman with a keen mind and a sense of honor.

Don Quijote de la Mancha: This part of the title establishes the character’s full name and origin. Don Quijote is the protagonist’s name, and “de la Mancha” indicates his region of origin, which is La Mancha, a central region of Spain. This specificity in the title adds an air of authenticity and helps ground the story in a particular location.