Don Quixote, Vol. 1 is a timeless classic that tells the story of an eccentric nobleman who becomes obsessed with the tales of chivalry and decides to become a knight-errant, renaming himself Don Quixote. This book is a satirical masterpiece that explores themes of reality versus fantasy, sanity versus madness, and the power of imagination.

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's writing is witty and engaging, with a sharp sense of humor that keeps the reader entertained throughout the novel. The characters are well-developed and complex, particularly Don Quixote himself, whose delusions and adventures provide plenty of opportunities for reflection on the nature of human folly.

The Ormsby translation is considered one of the most comprehensive and faithful versions of the original Spanish text, capturing the essence of Cervantes' language and style. The translator's notes and annotations provide additional context and insight into the historical and cultural background of the work, enhancing the reading experience for those unfamiliar with the period.

Overall, Don Quixote, Vol. 1 is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature, satire, and the power of storytelling. It is a rich and rewarding novel that continues to captivate readers centuries after its initial publication.

Book Description:
Don Quixote is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.... The story follows the adventures of a hidalgo named Mr. Alonso Quixano who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to set out to revive chivalry, undo wrongs, and bring justice to the world, under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. He recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, who often employs a unique, earthy wit in dealing with Don Quixote's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood. Don Quixote, in the first part of the book, does not see the world for what it is and prefers to imagine that he is living out a knightly story. Throughout the novel, Cervantes uses such literary techniques as realism, metatheatre, and intertextuality. It had a major influence on the literary community, as evidenced by direct references in Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers , Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac , as well as the word "quixotic" and the epithet "Lothario." Arthur Schopenhauer cited Don Quixote as one of the four greatest novels ever written, along with Tristram Shandy, La Nouvelle Héloïse and Wilhelm Meister.