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Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (9th October 1547 – 23rd April 1616) was a Spanish playwright, novelist, and poet. Cervantes is accredited with writing the first modern novel, his magnum opus, Don Quixote. A classic of Western literature, Don Quixote is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written. The Spanish language is often called la lengua de Cervantes as his influence on the language was so very great. Cervantes’ first published major work was La Galatea of 1585. While this was being written and published, two of his plays which are now lost were being performed on the stages of Madrid, El Trato de Argel and El Cerco de Numancia.

In the prologue of Don Quixote, Cervantes reveals that the idea of the work occurred to him in prison at Argamasilla de Alba in La Mancha. Cervantes wished to give a true picture of real life and manners expressed in a clear language. The public responded very positively to the intrusion of everyday speech into a literary context, something previously unheard of in Spain. Although the first part of Don Quixote did not make Cervantes wealthy, it brought him international recognition as a man of letters. Whilst he didn’t write about e14 led, he did write about contemporary Spain beautifully.