01 · The gentleman who read too much
In a village in La Mancha there lived a country gentleman of about fifty.
In a village in La Mancha there lived a country gentleman of about fifty.
He was thin, he got up early, and he liked to hunt.
He was thin, he got up early, and he liked to hunt.
But his great passion was books about knights.
But his great passion was books about knights.
He read by day and by night, and he hardly slept.
He read by day and by night, and he hardly slept.
He even sold land to buy more books.
He even sold land to buy more books.
Little by little, he began to believe that all those stories were true.
Little by little, he began to believe that all those stories were true.
So he decided to become a knight-errant.
So he decided to become a knight-errant.
He wanted to put wrongs right and win fame forever.
He wanted to put wrongs right and win fame forever.
He cleaned up his great-grandparents' old armor and fixed up a helmet with cardboard.
He cleaned up his great-grandparents' old armor and fixed up a helmet with cardboard.
He spent four days looking for a name for his thin horse: Rocinante.
He spent four days looking for a name for his thin horse: Rocinante.
After eight more days, he named himself Don Quixote de la Mancha.
After eight more days, he named himself Don Quixote de la Mancha.
All he needed now was a lady. He chose a young farm woman from a nearby village, who never knew a thing about it, and called her Dulcinea del Toboso.
All he needed now was a lady. He chose a young farm woman from a nearby village, who never knew a thing about it, and called her Dulcinea del Toboso.
Saylumo English retelling · Cervantes, Don Quijote, Part I, Chapter 1 (1605) · Original simplified adaptation by Saylumo. Not a quotation of Cervantes and not a translation of his text. · Source & license