Spain’s greatest literary figure was born in 1547 and died in April 1616 in Madrid.
A novelist, poet and playwright, he has received universal acclaim for his masterpiece, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, which for many is the first modern novel.
Miguel de Cervantes was influenced by the literary genres of his day, among them the Byzantine, pastoral and picaresque novels.
In addition to Don Quijote, Cervantes also wrote La Galatea (his first novel, published in 1585), a series of short stories written between 1590 and 1612 that were compiled for the collection titled Novelas ejemplares, and Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda, his last novel and one considered to be evidence of the survival of Byzantine novel themes.
Most of Cervantes’ poetic works, which are notable for their comic and satirical tone, have been lost or have not yet been identified. Among his masterworks of poetry are the sonnets Un valenton de espatula y greguesco and Al tumulo del rey Felipe II.
