> The 17th century novel Don Quixote was originally written in which language?And the answer: Spanish. "Don Quixote and Sancho Panza at a crossroad," by Wilhelm Marstrand, 1847,Nivaagaard Museum, Denmark.Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes published Don Quixote in two parts, one in1605 and the second 10 years later. It tells the story of an aging knight whosets out on his horse, with his pragmatic servant named Sancho Panza, to seekadventure. The book is considered the first modern novel, and continues to beone of the most popular books in the world.> “Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember…”With perhaps some of the most famous lines in Spanish literature, Don Quixote cracks open the cover of the first modern novel. The book follows the epic questof the eponymous main character, who travels with his servant to seek adventuresakin to those which he has read in books. By imitating his literary heroes, DonQuixote de la Mancha finds new truths about the nature of adventure, and thenature of self. All the while, author Cervantes gives voice to shockingly modernquestions of morality, to nuanced irony, and a vast array of characters andbeliefs.Don Quixote has inspired authors, playwrights and creators for centuries. In1614, even before the second part was published, a ballet inspired by Cervantes'work was performed in Paris. Since then, composers like Purcell, Salieri,Strauss, Piccinni, Mendelssohn, Ravel and Falla have looked for inspiration fortheir operas, concerts, ballets and chamber music in “Don Quixote.” Cervantes issometimes referred to as “Spanish Shakespeare” for his contributions toliterature and the larger literary canon. Writers such as Goethe, Thomas Mann,Stendhal, Flaubert, Melville, Twain and many modern Spanish-American writershave used Don Quixote as a model both in terms of structure and narrative. Learn more about the legacy and story of Don Quixote below.