Don Quixote Volume I, Part 13

Alonso Quixana, an elderly gentleman who lives in La Mancha in the Spanish countryside, has read many books on chivalry and wants to pattern his life on this principle. Because of this he has lost his wits and is determined to ride throughout the country as a knight-errant who calls himself Don Quixote de La Mancha. Though he has lost his grip on reality, it is difficult not to be moved by his adventures despite his delusions--common peasants become squires, windmills are monstrous armies, barbers' basins are golden helmets, decrepit nags are warriors' steeds. At the beginning of these meanderings Quixote accepts knighthood from an innkeeper. His innocence cannot save him from confusion or accident or brutality, but he continues on by recruiting the peasant, Sancho Panza, as his squire and an ordinary scrubwoman as the noble lady Dulcinea. The Helmet of Mambrino (a shaving bucket) is a magical talisman that will protect him in battle. The conflict of honorable imagination and callous practicality tests his mettle so that nowadays he is perceived as a symbol of glorious though ineffective idealism. At last, Don Quixote illustrates how optimism can replace any ruined sensibilities. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.