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Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616)

Translated by John Ormsby

129 chapters and parts · about 35 hours to read

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What the book is about

"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is a Spanish novel published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. Considered the first modern novel, it follows Alonso Quijano, a man who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his mind and reinvents himself as the knight-errant Don Quixote. Accompanied by his earthy squire Sancho Panza, he embarks on misguided adventures, mistaking windmills for giants and inns for castles, determined to revive chivalry in a world that has moved on.

This summary comes from the Project Gutenberg catalogue, where it was written automatically.

  • Knights and knighthood -- Spain
  • Picaresque literature
  • Romances
  • Spain -- Social life and customs -- 16th century

Chapters

  1. Introductionabout 8 minutes
  2. Chapter XXIXOf the Famous Adventure of the Enchanted Barkabout 4 minutes
  3. IntroductionPart 1 of 4about 26 minutes
  4. IntroductionPart 2 of 4about 26 minutes
  5. IntroductionPart 3 of 4about 26 minutes
  6. IntroductionPart 4 of 4about 24 minutes
  7. Chapter IWhich Treats of the Character and Pursuits of the Famous Gentleman Don Quixote of La Manchaabout 10 minutes
  8. Chapter IIWhich Treats of the First Sally the Ingenious Don Quixote Made from Homeabout 12 minutes
  9. Chapter IIIWherein Is Related the Droll Way in Which Don Quixote Had Himself Dubbed a Knightabout 13 minutes
  10. Chapter IVOf What Happened to Our Knight When He Left the Innabout 13 minutes
  11. Chapter VIn Which the Narrative of Our Knight’s Mishap Is Continuedabout 9 minutes
  12. Chapter VIOf the Diverting and Important Scrutiny Which the Curate and the Barber Made in the Library of Our Ingenious Gentlemanabout 14 minutes
  13. Chapter VIIOf the Second Sally of Our Worthy Knight Don Quixote of La Manchaabout 10 minutes
  14. Chapter VIIIOf the Good Fortune Which the Valiant Don Quixote Had in the Terrible and Undreamt-Of Adventure of the Windmills, with Other Occurrences Worthy to Be Fitly Recordedabout 15 minutes
  15. Chapter IXIn Which Is Concluded and Finished the Terrific Battle Between the Gallant Biscayan and the Valiant Mancheganabout 11 minutes
  16. Chapter XOf the Pleasant Discourse That Passed Between Don Quixote and His Squire Sancho Panzaabout 10 minutes
  17. Chapter XIWhat Befell Don Quixote with Certain Goatherdsabout 11 minutes
  18. Chapter XIIOf What a Goatherd Related to Those with Don Quixoteabout 12 minutes
  19. Chapter XIIIIn Which Is Ended the Story of the Shepherdess Marcela, with Other Incidentsabout 18 minutes
  20. Chapter XIVWherein Are Inserted the Despairing Verses of the Dead Shepherd, Together with Other Incidents Not Looked forabout 15 minutes
  21. Chapter XVIn Which Is Related the Unfortunate Adventure That Don Quixote Fell in with When He Fell Out with Certain Heartless Yanguesansabout 15 minutes
  22. Chapter XVIOf What Happened to the Ingenious Gentleman in the Inn Which He Took to Be a Castleabout 15 minutes
  23. Chapter XVIIIn Which Are Contained the Innumerable Troubles Which the Brave Don Quixote and His Good Squire Sancho Panza Endured in the Inn, Which to His Misfortune He Took to Be a Castleabout 17 minutes
  24. Chapter XVIIIIn Which Is Related the Discourse Sancho Panza Held with His Master, Don Quixote, and Other Adventures Worth Relatingabout 21 minutes
  25. Chapter XIXOf the Shrewd Discourse Which Sancho Held with His Master, and of the Adventure That Befell Him with a Dead Body, Together with Other Notable Occurrencesabout 15 minutes
  26. Chapter XXOf the Unexampled and Unheard-Of Adventure Which Was Achieved by the Valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha with Less Peril Than Any Ever Achieved by Any Famous Knight in the Worldabout 27 minutes
  27. Chapter XXIWhich Treats of the Exalted Adventure and Rich Prize of Mambrino’s Helmet, Together with Other Things That Happened to Our Invincible Knightabout 24 minutes
  28. Chapter XXIIOf the Freedom Don Quixote Conferred on Several Unfortunates Who Against Their Will Were Being Carried Where They Had No Wish to Goabout 22 minutes
  29. Chapter XXIIIOf What Befell Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena, Which Was One of the Rarest Adventures Related in This Veracious Historyabout 24 minutes
  30. Chapter XXIVIn Which Is Continued the Adventure of the Sierra Morenaabout 18 minutes
Show all 129 chapters and parts
  1. Chapter XXVWhich Treats of the Strange Things That Happened to the Stout Knight of La Mancha in the Sierra Morena, and of His Imitation of the Penance of Beltenebrosabout 34 minutes
  2. Chapter XXVIIn Which Are Continued the Refinements Wherewith Don Quixote Played the Part of a Lover in the Sierra Morenaabout 16 minutes
  3. Chapter XXVIIOf How the Curate and the Barber Proceeded with Their Scheme; Together with Other Matters Worthy of Record in This Great Historyabout 34 minutes
  4. Chapter XXVIIIWhich Treats of the Strange and Delightful Adventure That Befell the Curate and the Barber in the Same Sierraabout 30 minutes
  5. Chapter XXIXWhich Treats of the Droll Device and Method Adopted to Extricate Our Love-Stricken Knight from the Severe Penance He Had Imposed upon Himselfabout 24 minutes
  6. Chapter XXXWhich Treats of Address Displayed by the Fair Dorothea, with Other Matters Pleasant and Amusingabout 21 minutes
  7. Chapter XXXIOf the Delectable Discussion Between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, His Squire, Together with Other Incidentsabout 19 minutes
  8. Chapter XXXIIWhich Treats of What Befell Don Quixote’s Party at the Innabout 14 minutes
  9. Chapter XXXIIIIn Which Is Related the Novel of “The Ill-Advised Curiosity”about 40 minutes
  10. Chapter XXXIVIn Which Is Continued the Novel of “The Ill-Advised Curiosity”about 39 minutes
  11. Chapter XXXVWhich Treats of the Heroic and Prodigious Battle Don Quixote Had with Certain Skins of Red Wine, and Brings the Novel of “The Ill-Advised Curiosity” to a Closeabout 18 minutes
  12. Chapter XXXVIWhich Treats of More Curious Incidents That Occurred at the Innabout 19 minutes
  13. Chapter XXXVIIIn Which Is Continued the Story of the Famous Princess Micomicona, with Other Droll Adventuresabout 21 minutes
  14. Chapter XXXVIIIWhich Treats of the Curious Discourse Don Quixote Delivered on Arms and Lettersabout 8 minutes
  15. Chapter XXXIXWherein the Captive Relates His Life and Adventuresabout 16 minutes
  16. Chapter XLIn Which the Story of the Captive Is Continuedabout 26 minutes
  17. Chapter XLIIn Which the Captive Still Continues His Adventuresabout 41 minutes
  18. Chapter XLIIWhich Treats of What Further Took Place in the Inn, and of Several Other Things Worth Knowingabout 15 minutes
  19. Chapter XLIIIWherein Is Related the Pleasant Story of the Muleteer, Together with Other Strange Things That Came to Pass in the Innabout 20 minutes
  20. Chapter XLIVIn Which Are Continued the Unheard-Of Adventures of the Innabout 18 minutes
  21. Chapter XLVIn Which the Doubtful Question of Mambrino’s Helmet and the Pack-Saddle Is Finally Settled, with Other Adventures That Occurred in Truth and Earnestabout 16 minutes
  22. Chapter XLVIOf the End of the Notable Adventure of the Officers of the Holy Brotherhood; and of the Great Ferocity of Our Worthy Knight, Don Quixoteabout 17 minutes
  23. Chapter XLVIIOf the Strange Manner in Which Don Quixote of La Mancha Was Carried Away Enchanted, Together with Other Remarkable Incidentsabout 20 minutes
  24. Chapter XLVIIIIn Which the Canon Pursues the Subject of the Books of Chivalry, with Other Matters Worthy of His Witabout 16 minutes
  25. Chapter XLIXWhich Treats of the Shrewd Conversation Which Sancho Panza Held with His Master Don Quixoteabout 14 minutes
  26. Chapter LOf the Shrewd Controversy Which Don Quixote and the Canon Held, Together with Other Incidentsabout 13 minutes
  27. Chapter LIWhich Deals with What the Goatherd Told Those Who Were Carrying Off Don Quixoteabout 11 minutes
  28. Chapter LIIOf the Quarrel That Don Quixote Had with the Goatherd, Together with the Rare Adventure of the Penitents, Which with an Expenditure of Sweat He Brought to a Happy Conclusionabout 21 minutes
  29. Volume IIp003.jpg (307K)about 10 minutes
  30. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter IOf the Interview the Curate and the Barber Had with Don Quixote About His Maladyabout 22 minutes
  31. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter IIWhich Treats of the Notable Altercation Which Sancho Panza Had with Don Quixote’s Niece, and Housekeeper, Together with Other Droll Mattersabout 9 minutes
  32. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter IIIOf the Laughable Conversation That Passed Between Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and the Bachelor Samson Carrascoabout 15 minutes
  33. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter IVIn Which Sancho Panza Gives a Satisfactory Reply to the Doubts and Questions of the Bachelor Samson Carrasco, Together with Other Matters Worth Knowing and Tellingabout 10 minutes
  34. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter VOf the Shrewd and Droll Conversation That Passed Between Sancho Panza and His Wife Teresa Panza, and Other Matters Worthy of Being Duly Recordedabout 13 minutes
  35. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter VIOf What Took Place Between Don Quixote and His Niece and Housekeeper; One of the Most Important Chapters in the Whole Historyabout 11 minutes
  36. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter VIIOf What Passed Between Don Quixote and His Squire, Together with Other Very Notable Incidentsabout 14 minutes
  37. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter VIIIWherein Is Related What Befell Don Quixote on His Way to See His Lady Dulcinea Del Tobosoabout 14 minutes
  38. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter IXWherein Is Related What Will Be Seen Thereabout 8 minutes
  39. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XWherein Is Related the Crafty Device Sancho Adopted to Enchant the Lady Dulcinea, and Other Incidents as Ludicrous as They Are Trueabout 18 minutes
  40. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XIOf the Strange Adventure Which the Valiant Don Quixote Had with the Car or Cart of “The Cortes of Death”about 12 minutes
  41. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XIIOf the Strange Adventure Which Befell the Valiant Don Quixote with the Bold Knight of the Mirrorsabout 12 minutes
  42. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XIIIIn Which Is Continued the Adventure of the Knight of the Grove, Together with the Sensible, Original, and Tranquil Colloquy That Passed Between the Two Squiresabout 12 minutes
  43. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XIVWherein Is Continued the Adventure of the Knight of the Groveabout 22 minutes
  44. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XVWherein It Is Told and Known Who the Knight of the Mirrors and His Squire Wereabout 4 minutes
  45. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XVIOf What Befell Don Quixote with a Discreet Gentleman of La Manchaabout 19 minutes
  46. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XVIIWherein Is Shown the Furthest and Highest Point Which the Unexampled Courage of Don Quixote Reached or Could Reach; Together with the Happily Achieved Adventure of the Lionsabout 20 minutes
  47. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XVIIIOf What Happened Don Quixote in the Castle or House of the Knight of the Green Gaban, Together with Other Matters Out of the Commonabout 16 minutes
  48. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XIXIn Which Is Related the Adventure of the Enamoured Shepherd, Together with Other Truly Droll Incidentsabout 15 minutes
  49. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXWherein an Account Is Given of the Wedding of Camacho the Rich, Together with the Incident of Basilio the Poorabout 17 minutes
  50. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXIIn Which Camacho’s Wedding Is Continued, with Other Delightful Incidentsabout 13 minutes
  51. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXIIWherein Is Related the Grand Adventure of the Cave of Montesinos in the Heart of La Mancha, Which the Valiant Don Quixote Brought to a Happy Terminationabout 36 minutes
  52. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXIVWherein Are Related a Thousand Trifling Matters, as Trivial as They Are Necessary to the Right Understanding of This Great Historyabout 13 minutes
  53. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXVWherein Is Set Down the Braying Adventure, and the Droll One of the Puppet-Showman, Together with the Memorable Divinations of the Divining Apeabout 19 minutes
  54. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXVIWherein Is Continued the Droll Adventure of the Puppet-Showman, Together with Other Things in Truth Right Goodabout 29 minutes
  55. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXVIIIOf Matters That Benengeli Says He Who Reads Them Will Know, If He Reads Them with Attentionabout 11 minutes
  56. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXIXOf the Famous Adventure of the Enchanted Barkabout 12 minutes
  57. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXOf Don Quixote’s Adventure with a Fair Huntressabout 10 minutes
  58. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXIWhich Treats of Many and Great Mattersabout 16 minutes
  59. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXIIOf the Reply Don Quixote Gave His Censurer, with Other Incidents, Grave and Drollabout 28 minutes
  60. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXIIIOf the Delectable Discourse Which the Duchess and Her Damsels Held with Sancho Panza, Well Worth Reading and Notingabout 14 minutes
  61. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXIVWhich Relates How They Learned the Way in Which They Were to Disenchant the Peerless Dulcinea Del Toboso, Which Is One of the Rarest Adventures in This Bookabout 14 minutes
  62. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXVWherein Is Continued the Instruction Given to Don Quixote Touching the Disenchantment of Dulcinea, Together with Other Marvellous Incidentsabout 13 minutes
  63. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXVIWherein Is Related the Strange and Undreamt-Of Adventure of the Distressed Duenna, Alias the Countess Trifaldi, Together with a Letter Which Sancho Panza Wrote to His Wife, Teresa Panzaabout 11 minutes
  64. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXVIIWherein Is Continued the Notable Adventure of the Distressed Duennaabout 4 minutes
  65. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXVIIIWherein Is Told the Distressed Duenna’s Tale of Her Misfortunesabout 12 minutes
  66. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XXXIXIn Which the Trifaldi Continues Her Marvellous and Memorable Storyabout 5 minutes
  67. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLOf Matters Relating and Belonging to This Adventure and to This Memorable Historyabout 11 minutes
  68. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLIOf the Arrival of Clavileño and the End of This Protracted Adventureabout 21 minutes
  69. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLIIOf the Counsels Which Don Quixote Gave Sancho Panza Before He Set Out to Govern the Island, Together with Other Well-Considered Mattersabout 10 minutes
  70. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLIIIOf the Second Set of Counsels Don Quixote Gave Sancho Panzaabout 12 minutes
  71. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLIVHow Sancho Panza Was Conducted to His Government, and of the Strange Adventure That Befell Don Quixote in the Castleabout 17 minutes
  72. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLVOf How the Great Sancho Panza Took Possession of His Island, and of How He Made a Beginning in Governingabout 14 minutes
  73. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLVIOf the Terrible Bell and Cat Fright That Don Quixote Got in the Course of the Enamoured Altisidora’s Wooingabout 7 minutes
  74. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLVIIWherein Is Continued the Account of How Sancho Panza Conducted Himself in His Governmentabout 17 minutes
  75. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLVIIIOf What Befell Don Quixote with Doña Rodriguez, the Duchess’s Duenna, Together with Other Occurrences Worthy of Record and Eternal Remembranceabout 16 minutes
  76. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter XLIXOf What Happened Sancho in Making the Round of His Islandabout 40 minutes
  77. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LIOf the Progress of Sancho’s Government, and Other Such Entertaining Mattersabout 17 minutes
  78. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LIIWherein Is Related the Adventure of the Second Distressed or Afflicted Duenna, Otherwise Called Doña Rodriguezabout 14 minutes
  79. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LIIIOf the Troublous End and Termination Sancho Panza’s Government Came toabout 11 minutes
  80. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LIVWhich Deals with Matters Relating to This History and No Otherabout 16 minutes
  81. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LVOf What Befell Sancho on the Road, and Other Things That Cannot Be Surpassedabout 15 minutes
  82. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LVIOf the Prodigious and Unparalleled Battle That Took Place Between Don Quixote of La Mancha and the Lacquey Tosilos in Defence of the Daughter of Doña Rodriguezabout 10 minutes
  83. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LVIIWhich Treats of How Don Quixote Took Leave of the Duke, and of What Followed with the Witty and Impudent Altisidora, One of the Duchess’s Damselsabout 7 minutes
  84. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LVIIIWhich Tells How Adventures Came Crowding on Don Quixote in Such Numbers That They Gave One Another No Breathing-Timeabout 23 minutes
  85. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LIXWherein Is Related the Strange Thing, Which May Be Regarded as an Adventure, That Happened Don Quixoteabout 16 minutes
  86. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXOf What Happened Don Quixote on His Way to Barcelonaabout 25 minutes
  87. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXIOf What Happened Don Quixote on Entering Barcelona, Together with Other Matters That Partake of the True Rather Than of the Ingeniousabout 5 minutes
  88. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXIIWhich Deals with the Adventure of the Enchanted Head, Together with Other Trivial Matters Which Cannot Be Left Untoldabout 24 minutes
  89. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXIIIOf the Mishap That Befell Sancho Panza Through the Visit to the Galleys, and the Strange Adventure of the Fair Moriscoabout 19 minutes
  90. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXIVTreating of the Adventure Which Gave Don Quixote More Unhappiness Than All That Had Hitherto Befallen Himabout 9 minutes
  91. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXVWherein Is Made Known Who the Knight of the White Moon Was; Likewise Don Gregorio’s Release, and Other Eventsabout 11 minutes
  92. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXVIWhich Treats of What He Who Reads Will See, or What He Who Has It Read to Him Will Hearabout 20 minutes
  93. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXVIIIOf the Bristly Adventure That Befell Don Quixoteabout 10 minutes
  94. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXIXOf the Strangest and Most Extraordinary Adventure That Befell Don Quixote in the Whole Course of This Great Historyabout 10 minutes
  95. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXXWhich Follows Sixty-Nine and Deals with Matters Indispensable for the Clear Comprehension of This Historyabout 14 minutes
  96. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXXIOf What Passed Between Don Quixote and His Squire Sancho on the Way to Their Villageabout 12 minutes
  97. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXXIIOf How Don Quixote and Sancho Reached Their Villageabout 9 minutes
  98. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXXIIIOf the Omens Don Quixote Had as He Entered His Own Village, and Other Incidents That Embellish and Give a Colour to This Great Historyabout 9 minutes
  99. Volume II: p003.jpg (307K) · Chapter LXXIVOf How Don Quixote Fell Sick, and of the Will He Made, and How He Diedabout 13 minutes

Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, translated by John Ormsby, is in the public domain in the United States. Text from Project Gutenberg, eBook #996, with thanks. Sureno removed Project Gutenberg's header and licence and set the text in large print; this is not an official Project Gutenberg edition. Outside the United States, check your own country's copyright rules before copying it.

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