Don Quixote

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but in 1600.

When Don Quixote, inspired by the certainly true stories of knight errantry (including the Legends of King Arthur), decides to become a Knight Errant himself, he sets out on a series of (mis)adventures to restore the age of chivalry. Alas though, most people don't believe the obvious truth of these stories and see him as a madman. As he tries to explain to everyone, especially his skeptical squire Sancho Panza, the obvious truths of knight errantry and defend his actions, its clear that anything to the contrary must be the work of an evil enchanter. "Hold your tongue!" said Don Quixote, "Where have you ever seen or heard of a knight errant who was brought before a judge no matter how many homicides he may have committed?"

Cervantes uses this hilarious adventure not only as a satire of these chivalrous romances, but as a frame for literary criticism and assorted nested stories. The diversions from the plot and pointless pranks played on the unfortunate pair, however, really detract from the story, as does the obvious pandering to the Spanish Inquisition, for admittedly understandable reasons. This all is especially true in the second book, though the discussion and criticism of his first book in the second book is wonderful.

Fantastic tale. I never appreciated how good a story this is.

People are obsessed with the windmills bit, but that's like 1% of the story! There's some great stuff, but comedic and touching.

This paperback wasn't my favorite translation, however. I scrapped it and found a better version online.

One of those classics that you start out reading because it's a classic, but end up realizing two things: (1) It's a classic for a reason, and (2) Most people who refer to it as a classic probably haven't read more than the first 100 pages. At least that's where all the famous passages are... But the rest of the book is what makes it worth reading.