# Miguel Cervantes Saavedra

## Biography

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, widely considered the greatest writer in the Spanish language, was born around September 29, 1547, in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. The son of a barber-surgeon, his early life was marked by his family's frequent moves and financial struggles. In 1569, he left Spain for Italy, where he served in the household of a cardinal before enlisting as a soldier. He famously fought in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, sustaining an injury that left his left hand permanently crippled. In 1575, while returning to Spain, he was captured by Barbary pirates and endured five years of captivity in Algiers before being ransomed.

Upon his return to Spain in 1580, Cervantes worked as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada and later as a tax collector, often facing financial difficulties and even imprisonment. He began his literary career with works like "La Galatea" in 1585. However, it was the publication of the first part of "Don Quixote" in 1605 that brought him widespread acclaim. The second part followed in 1615. This iconic novel, along with his "Exemplary Novels" and plays, solidified his place in literary history. He died in Madrid on April 22, 1616.

## Books

- [The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, Complete](https://samolit.com/books/96482)
- [The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete](https://samolit.com/books/96108)
- [Don Quijote](https://samolit.com/books/95938)
- [Don Quixote](https://samolit.com/books/95873)