Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright whose Don Quixote is widely regarded as the first modern novel and one of the founding works of Western literature. His own life was eventful: he fought at the naval Battle of Lepanto, was captured by Barbary corsairs and held captive in Algiers for five years, and struggled with money for much of his career. His comic story of an aging gentleman who loses himself in tales of chivalry has shaped the course of fiction ever since.