With over 500 million copies sold, Don Quixote is the most-sold book, unlike religious books. The novel is so famous that even coined expressions, such as “tilting at windmills,” which means firing at imaginary enemies. But what made this novel stand out?
Miguel de Cervantes wrote the novel in the early 17th century; he was a man who was already in his 50s after a unimpressive career. At the time, books were all about fantastic warriors who would go to battle and be successful. With Don Quixote, the script is changed completely, with the story being about a bored nobleman who, after reading too many books, starts imagining that he is a warrior and starts fighting the windmills as if they were giants.
Don Quixote challenges us to think about idealism and realism. Is he a fool for fighting windmills he thinks are giants, or is the real foolishness in those who see only windmills and never dare to dream of something greater? Cervantes' story also mocks the rigid social structures of his day. Don Quixote, a common man, believes he can be a knight—a direct jab at the social norms that said "stay in your lane."
Ultimately, Miguel Cervantes never profited from this success as he sold the novel rights for very little, but how much does it matter? His novel would inspire millions of people, and he became known as the “father of the Spanish language.” It is proof that age is not telling in terms of when you can shape the world.
Craving more? Check out the source behind this Brain Snack!
