Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes was born to Rodrigo de Cervantes and Leonor de Cortinas on September 29th, 1547 in Alcala de Henares, Spain. He was Baptized a catholic on the 9th of October, although it is possible, however unproven that Cervantes was of converted-blood, which may explain Cervantes’ inability to keep company of significance, despite admiration for his work, the ‘loose’ lives of his sisters, and extremity of his Catholic faith (Byron 24) Never the less, Cervantes’ father was able to acquire papers proving purity of blood. Cervantes’ title of hidalgo was a title of lineage passed down from generations before him. Little is known of Cervantes’ childhood or education. In 1567 Cervantes’ published his first poems. For some years before joining the army, Cervantes lived in Rome, Italy, familiarizing himself with Italian culture. He then joined a Spanish infantry from 1570 until 1580, the later five years of which he was imprisoned by Pirates and held for ransom. He attempted to escape four times, but was unsuccessfully each time. Finally in 1580 the Trinitarian friars paid his ransom and he was able to return to his family in Madrid. In 1854, an affair with Ana Franco de Rojas produced an illegitimate daughter, Isabel de Saavedra. Later that year, he married Catalina de Salazar. In 1585 Cervantes published his first novel: La Galatea. While working as a tax collector, Cervantes ran into some financial trouble of his own in the form of account irregularities, and was jailed at least once, perhaps twice. In 1604 Cervantes moved to Valladolid with his family, but remained there fore only three years before returning to Madrid, where he would live until his death in 1616.

Novels Published By Cervantes:
La Galatea
El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha I (1605), II (1615)
Novelas ejemplares (a collection of twelve short stories)
La gitanilla (The Gypsy Girl)
El amante liberal (The Generous Lover)
Rinconete y Cortadillo
La espaola inglesa (the English Spanish Lady)
El lincenciado Vidriera (The Glass Vidriera)
La fuerza de la sangre (The Power of Blood)
El celoso extremeño (Te Jealous Old Man From Extremadura)
La ilustre fregona (The Illustrious Kitchen-Maid)
Novela de las dos doncellas (The Two Damsels)
Novela de la señora Cornelia (Lady Cornelia)
Novela del casamiento engañoso (The Deceitful Marriage)
El coloquio de los perros (The Dialogue of the Dogs)
Los Trabajos de Persilles y Segismunda, historia septentrional

Works Cited:
Byron, William. Cervantes: A Biography. Doubleday & Company, Inc: Garden City, 1978.
"Miguel de Cervantes". Wikipedia. 2/1/07 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes>.

"Miguel de Cervantes: Biography and Complete Works". Books Factory. 2/1/07 <http://www.booksfactory.com/writers/cervantes.htm>.