Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) was one of the greatest Spanish writers. Little is known about his upbringing and education, although it is believed he was registered in the school of Spanish humanist Juan López de Hoyos, in Madrid, where he studied literature. As a young adult, Cervantes joined the Spanish military where he was severely wounded in battle. In 1575, he and his brother were captured by pirates and held captive for five years. In 1605, Cervantes published the first part of Don Quixote, which became the world’s first bestseller, and is widely regarded as the first modern novel. The second part of Don Quixote was plagiarized by a fellow writer, and in 1614, Cervantes released the real volume two of Don Quixote. Though he achieved fame from his novels, but not wealth, Cervantes remained a prolific writer throughout his life. His works also include the Exemplary Novels, La Galatea, Los Trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda, numerous poems, and eight full-length plays.