The life and exploits of the ingenious gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha

Don Quixote is often named as the novel most likely to be on your shelf, but unread. It is almost as though the eponymous hero of the novel and wannabe knight is laying down a chivalric challenge. For Cervantes' epic tale of adventure, imagination and globetrotting is regarded as one of the first ever novels - and it retains all of its power today. Quixote is entranced by stories of chivalry and sets off around the world with his squire, Sancho Panza, to become a knight errant. The adventures become gradually more fanciful, including tilting at windmills and getting into fights with friars. At the same time, the relationship between Quixote and Panza goes through subtle changes. Don Quixote has been portrayed on screen many times, including most recently in Terry Gilliam's spoof movie 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote', starring Adam Driver and Stellan Skarsgard. In 2000, John Lithgow, Bob Hoskins and Isabella Rossellini starred in 'Don Quixote'.