"Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be."
-Miguel de Cervantes
Life Before Literature
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born around September 29, 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. His father, Rodrigo, was a deaf surgeon, and he and his family moved around several times when he was looking for a better job. Miguel's mother's name was Leonor de Cortinas. As a child, Miguel was taught by a relative and became and avid reader. Little else is known about Miguel de Cervantes' early years.
De Cervantes' first published works appear in 1569 in the form of poetry. One year later, Miguel de Cervantes joined the Spanish military. While in the military, stationed on the ship La Marquesa in the Battle of Lepanto, de Cervantes suffered two chest wounds and the loss of one of his hands. Regardless of his injuries, de Cervantes served for several more years. In 1575, de Cervantes and his brother Rodrigo were captured by Turkish ships while on their trip home to Spain. Miguel de Cervantes was a prisoner and a slave for five years. He only returned home after a ransom was paid for his release.
In 1584, Miguel de Cervantes married Catalina de Salazar y Palacios. They never had any children, but de Cervantes had a child from a previous relationship, Isabel de Saavedra.
De Cervantes' first published works appear in 1569 in the form of poetry. One year later, Miguel de Cervantes joined the Spanish military. While in the military, stationed on the ship La Marquesa in the Battle of Lepanto, de Cervantes suffered two chest wounds and the loss of one of his hands. Regardless of his injuries, de Cervantes served for several more years. In 1575, de Cervantes and his brother Rodrigo were captured by Turkish ships while on their trip home to Spain. Miguel de Cervantes was a prisoner and a slave for five years. He only returned home after a ransom was paid for his release.
In 1584, Miguel de Cervantes married Catalina de Salazar y Palacios. They never had any children, but de Cervantes had a child from a previous relationship, Isabel de Saavedra.
The Climb to Success
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/3/8/19386409/5013821.png?306)
This is an image depicting a scene from de Cervantes' "Don Quixote."
De Cervantes published his first novel, La Galatea, in 1585. However, it was not a hit. Around the same time de Cervantes tried something else. He tried at playwriting, but he failed; only two of his plays even survived.
De Cervantes began working as a commissary in the Spanish Armada in the late 1580s. During this time he was imprisoned two times for mismanagement. However, he had began to write a piece that would become his legacy.
In 1605, de Cervantes published the first part of the novel Don Quixote. It became the world's first best seller, and it would later be translated into greater than 60 different languages. De Cervantes published the second part of the novel in 1615.
De Cervantes began working as a commissary in the Spanish Armada in the late 1580s. During this time he was imprisoned two times for mismanagement. However, he had began to write a piece that would become his legacy.
In 1605, de Cervantes published the first part of the novel Don Quixote. It became the world's first best seller, and it would later be translated into greater than 60 different languages. De Cervantes published the second part of the novel in 1615.
After Don Quixote
After the success of Don Quixote de Cervantes continued to write, but he failed to finish The Labors of Persiles and Segismunda before he died. He died, ironically, on the same date as the famous William Shakespeare--April 23, 1616--in Madrid Spain. Miguel de Cervantes was buried in an unmarked grave on the grounds of a convent. Nevertheless, Miguel de Cervantes' work inspired many writers, as well as artists, including Pablo Picasso.