CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, MIGUEL DE

born Sept. 29?, 1547, Alcal de Henares, Spain died April 22, 1616, Madrid Spanish novelist, playwright, and poet, the creator of Don Quixote (1605) and the most important figure in Spanish literature. After studying in Madrid, Cervantes went to Italy and became a soldier, taking part in the sea battle of Lepanto (1571), during which he was wounded and lost the use of his left hand. After many adventures, including five years as a captive of the Turks, he returned to Spain in 1580. Cervantes produced his first book, a pastoral novel, La Galatea, in 1585. From 1582 to 1587 he also wrote some 20 or 30 plays, only two of which survive: El Trato de Argel (The Traffic of Algiers) and La Numancia (Numantia). There followed from 1587, while he was in uncongenial government service and his fortunes were at their lowest, a long hiatus in his literary career. El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha (The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha) was published in 1605 and was an immediate success. Though it did not bring him riches, it put him in the front rank of men of letters. Among his subsequent works are a collection of 12 short stories, Novelas ejemplares (1613; Exemplary Tales); a collection of comedies, Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses nuevos (1615; Eight Comedies and Eight New Interludes); and the second part of Don Quixote (1615).