Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616) was a Spanish writer whose masterpiece, Don Quixote, is widely regarded as the first modern novel and one of the greatest works of world literature. Much of his early life was defined by military service and hardship. In 1571, he was badly wounded at the Battle of Lepanto, permanently losing the use of his left hand. He was later captured by Barbary pirates in 1575 and endured five years of captivity in Algiers before being ransomed and returning to Spain.\n\nDespite his eventual literary stature, Cervantes spent much of his life in relative poverty and obscurity. To support himself, he worked as a purchasing agent and tax collector, writing in his spare time. His first major publication was the pastoral romance La Galatea in 1585. According to tradition, he conceived and began writing Don Quixote while imprisoned in the house of Medrano. The novel's first part was published in 1605, followed by the second part in 1615, bringing him widespread recognition but little wealth.\n\nCervantes's diverse literary output also includes the Novelas ejemplares (Exemplary Novels), the long poem Viaje del Parnaso, and several plays. His final novel, Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda, was published posthumously in 1617. Today, his enduring impact on the Spanish language is so profound that it is frequently referred to as "the language of Cervantes."
