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Don Quixote

By: Edith Grossman - translator, Miguel de Cervantes
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

DON QUIXOTE IS AN EPIC QUEST FOR THE SAKE OF IMAGINATION

I was introduced to the epic journey of Don Quixote in my 10th-grade English class. Being no stranger to stories of wandering heroes (stuff like The Odyssey and Gilgamesh), I thought I knew what to expect. The summary evoked images of knights, dragons, and fair maidens, so this book seemed to be a standard dose of medieval-style fantasy. What I got when I cracked open Don Quixote was certainly fantastical, but unlike any fiction I had experienced before it.

This legend begins with Alonso Quixano, a somewhat wealthy but otherwise average man with big dreams. Inspired by the romantic exploits of knights, he assumes the moniker "Don Quixote de la Mancha" and dons an ill-fitting, creaky set of armor. Riding his old work horse Rocinante, he decides that he is going to begin an epic quest for the favor of Dulcinea, a fair maiden he conjured up out of thin air. On his journey, Don Quixote creates fantasy after fantasy, clinging desperately to the image of a knight that he invented for himself.

This story does not only take place from the perspective of a delusional man, however. On his travels, Don Quixote enlists the help of a peasant named Sancho Panza, promising him his own castle and riches beyond his wildest imagination. Sancho quickly sees the truth of the matter, almost pitying the Don for his lofty pipe dreams. Yet eventually, he gets wrapped up in the fantasy too, hoping against his better logic that this quest will work out for them both.

While some people see Don Quixote as a warning to keep both feet in the real world, I see things a bit differently. Despite his obvious delusions of grandeur, I think there is something noble about this quest. Don Quixote is a man who is willing to believe in himself no matter the cost, and he even endures ridicule and beatings for sticking to his beliefs. Yes, it is crazy to think that windmills could be vicious giants, but isn’t there something poetic about his commitment to a heightened reality?

While this work stands as a complete subversion of stories like The Knights of the Round Table, it is important that we continue to look to Don Quixote for inspiration. The audiobook adds yet another element, with veteran narrator George Guidall’s versatile diction creating a new sense of depth. Yes, this story is silly, absurd, and, at times, downright sad, but isn’t life the same way sometimes? Don Quixote reminds us that, no matter our current circumstances, we can always hope for more.

Continue reading Seth's review >

Publisher's summary

Don Quixote is the classic story. Called the first modern novel, this marvelous book has stood the test of time to become irrevocably intertwined with the fabric of society. Sixteenth-century Spanish gentleman Don Quixote, fed by his own delusional fantasies, takes to the road in search of chivalrous adventures. But his quest leads to more trouble than triumph. At once humorous, romantic, and sad, Don Quixote is a literary landmark. This fresh edition, by award-winning translator Edith Grossman, brings the tale to life as never before.

©2003 Edith Grossman (translation) (P)2003 Recorded Books

Featured Article: The top 100 classics of all time


Before we whipped out our old high school syllabi and dug deep into our libraries to start selecting contenders for this list, we first had to answer the question, "How do we define a classic?" The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might guess, though there’s a lot to be said for the old adage, "You know it when you see it" (or, in this case, hear it). Of course, most critically, each of our picks had to be fabulous in audio. So dust off your aspirational listening list—we have some amazing additions you don’t want to miss.

What listeners say about Don Quixote

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Wow

Wow. Just wow. Second hand accounts don't do justice to the original. It also resurrects 17th century people, bringing them fully to present.

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Better than you think

Working through some of the classics. This book should be a lot higher on some people's lists. It does have a certain amount of satire. The book gets a little long. It wraps up some what abruptly but reasonable well. Of course not for everyone e but pretty funny as well. Should be made into a movie.

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So good.

Long? Yes. Classic? Yes. Amazing translation? Yes. More amazing narration? Yes. Recommended? Absolutely. Enjoy Cernates' epic.

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a must read

Such an amusing story, and the narrator makes an incredible performance of it. one of my top favorite stories for sure

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To Dream the Impossible Dream...

A literary delight. so many genres of writing in one extraordinary tale of one incredible knight errant. As classic as they come.

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The original dark comedy

This particular audio performance was remarkably narrated and brought a very enjoyable light to a classic book. The story is truly the original dark comedy, as you follow the hero through all kinds of misadventures. I recommend it both for its sublime wisdom, as well as its very clever amusements.

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Masterful Narration!

This is one of those books that you hear about your whole life. It was entirely different than I expected and better for it. I found myself becoming irritated with it at some points because the story seemed so ridiculous and contrived that I thought it ... well, ridiculous and contrived. But that was the point of it after all. It was a good book and well worth experiencing, and the narration was absolutely perfect.

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The Original Superhero

no one will doubt the Valor of the great knight of la mencha. a more knowledgeable knight surely is not know.

take this book and the edge of your seat, and enjoy.

on a real note. it's good if you are a fan of Monty Python, Airaplane, or fractured fairy tales.

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Great Narration

A classic read by a voice meant to speak for Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Very much enjoyed.

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Excellent book, excellent translation, excellent narration!

What more can I say? All around, thoroughly enjoyable. The narrator does a wonderful job, the translation is very good, crisp, but with little reminders here and there of the Castilian original, and the book? Well, the book is peerless! Long live Don Quixote!

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