In October 1571, a 24-year-old soldier named Miguel de Cervantes was determined to fight. Serving with the Spanish Navy infantry at the Battle of Lepanto, he was sick with a high fever, but insisted on being in the thick of the action. On the deck of the galley Marquesa, his courage cost him dearly. He was struck by three arquebus shots—two in the chest, and a third that shattered his left hand. The injury was permanent, leaving the hand useless for the rest of his life. Cervantes, however, would always consider it his greatest honor. He later remarked that he had lost the use of his left hand 'for the greater glory of the right,' a sentiment that defined his unyielding spirit.
The Creation of Don Quixote
How Miguel de Cervantes, a soldier and tax collector, wrote the world's first modern novel after conceiving it in a Seville prison.
Chapter 1
A Glorious Wound
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Don Quixote considered the first modern novel?
It was the first major work to feature characters with deep psychological realism. Unlike the static heroes of older epics, Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza grow and change by influencing one another through their conversations. This focus on internal character development was groundbreaking for its time.
Did Cervantes really write the entire book in prison?
Cervantes himself claimed in the book's prologue that the story was "engendered in a prison." Scholars believe he conceived the central idea during his three-month imprisonment in Seville in 1597. However, the majority of the actual writing took place in the years following his release.
What happened to Cervantes's left hand?
While serving as a soldier at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Cervantes was hit by an arquebus shot that shattered his left hand. The injury rendered it permanently useless for the rest of his life. He later famously remarked that he had lost its use 'for the greater glory of the right.'
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