Novelist · 1547 – 1616

Miguel de Cervantes

Little-Known Facts

  • Cervantes was wounded at the naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571, permanently losing the use of his left hand.
  • He spent five years as a captive of Barbary corsairs in Algiers after being seized at sea.

Myths & Misconceptions

Did Cervantes only write Don Quixote?

No. He was also a poet and playwright and wrote the celebrated Exemplary Novels, though Don Quixote eclipsed all his other work.