Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: The First Part

Let's go tilting at windmills and tackle what's reputed to be the first novel in Western literature, and one of the longest for the September and October meetings. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes was published in two parts, the first in 1605 and the second in 1615.

We'll follow the author's lead and read and discuss his book in two sessions. For the September 27th session, please read "The First Part of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha," starting with the prologue and finishing with Chapter LII (52), titled, "Regarding the quarrel that Don Quixote had with the goatherd, as well as the strange adventure of the penitents, which he brought to a successful conclusion by the sweat of his brow."

Our second session in October (date TBD) will cover the prologue and 74 chapters of the "Second Part of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha." All 126 chapters are short so be not daunted by the numbers. I won't lie though, it's a lot of words.

We'll meet again at the Mission Valley library in Seminar Room A. The library sets a limit of 12 persons for the room. Feel free to bring your own refreshments.

I'll schedule and announce the October session later this month.

(Chapter numbers and titles above are from Edith Grossman's translation.)

-dave rankin