Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, considered the preminent writer in Spanish literature and one of the greatest authors in any language, was born on or about September 29, 1547. His life experiences, which ranged from being an avid reader and a devoted soldier to being captured and enslaved by pirates, influenced his literary works, including his masterpiece, Don Quixote. The novel's memorable title character is so bedazzled by tales of romantic chivalry that he sets off to save the world, famously tilting at windmills, which he believes to be giants. The book inspired the Tony Award winning musical Man of La Mancha, which in turn became a movie by the same title.
