具体描述
Widely regarded as the world's first modern novel, Don Quixote chronicles the famous picaresque adventures of the noble knight-errant Don Quixote de la Mancha and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they wend their way across sixteenth-century Spain. Milan Kundera calls Cervantes “the founder of the Modern Era and Lionel Trilling “observes that it can be said that all prose fiction is a variation on the theme of Don Quixote.”
This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition reproduces the acclaimed Tobias Smollett translation; as Salman Rushdie declares, “To my mind, this is the only English rendering of the Quixote that reads like a great novel, a novel of immense daring, much wildness and many colours. It releases Don Quixote from the grey academic prison of many more recent translations, unleashing him upon the English language in all his brilliant, foolish glory”. This edition also contains new endnotes.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
《堂吉诃德》是一部诞生于文艺复兴晚期西班牙的伟大史诗，它以其独特的幽默、深刻的讽刺以及对人性的多角度探索，至今仍吸引着无数读者。这部作品不仅仅是一个骑士冒险故事，更是一面映照时代变迁、社会百态以及个体理想与现实碰撞的镜子。 故事的主人公，一位名叫阿隆索·吉哈诺的乡村绅士，因为沉迷于骑士小说，逐渐失去了理智，坚信自己是一名即将重振骑士荣光的游侠骑士。他给自己取了“堂吉诃德”这个威风凛凛的名字，并召集了一匹瘦骨嶙峋的老马“罗西南多”，还请来了一位淳朴的农夫桑丘·潘萨作为自己的忠实随从，承诺封他为总督。堂吉诃德的宏大志向是四处游历，锄强扶弱，惩奸除恶，为无数受苦受难的人们伸张正义，并将自己心目中的完美女性——一位农家女阿尔东萨，想象成高贵的杜尔西内娅·德·托博索，并为她效劳。 然而，现实世界与堂吉诃德心中的骑士世界存在着天壤之别。他所见到的风车，被他误认为是巨人；客栈，在他眼里成了城堡；一群羊，则被他想象成敌对的军队。他一次次地发起“战斗”，却总是以狼狈的失败告终，有时还会被村民们戏弄、殴打，甚至被送回家。桑丘·潘萨，虽然常常被堂吉诃德的疯狂举动弄得啼笑皆非，但出于对主人的忠诚和对书中描绘的“总督”之位的向往，他依然跟随在堂吉诃德身边，在一次次荒诞的冒险中，扮演着现实与理想之间重要的缓冲角色。桑丘的质朴、务实以及对物质利益的关注，与堂吉诃德的精神追求形成了鲜明的对比，这种对比构成了小说最核心的幽默和深刻之处。 作者塞万提斯巧妙地运用了多种叙事手法，将堂吉诃德的个人冒险与他对当时西班牙社会现实的深刻观察巧妙地融合在一起。小说中出现的形形色色的人物，如驿卒、牧羊女、贵族、神父、理发师，都折射出那个时代西班牙社会的各个阶层和生活面貌。堂吉诃德与这些人的互动，无论是充满善意的帮助还是恶意的捉弄，都揭示了人性的复杂和多样。 《堂吉诃德》之所以能够成为不朽的文学经典，不仅仅在于其引人入胜的情节和幽默的笔调，更在于其深刻的思想内涵。堂吉诃德执着于一个逝去的时代，他所代表的理想主义，在冰冷而现实的社会中显得格格不入，常常被嘲笑和误解。然而，正是这种不合时宜的理想主义，在某种程度上也成为了对腐朽、虚伪现实的一种反抗。他的疯狂，在某种意义上，是对平庸生活的超越，是对人类精神中不屈不挠、追求卓越品质的一种象征。 另一方面，桑丘·潘萨的形象也极具魅力。他代表着普通人的智慧和生存之道，他的“乡下人的谚语”充满生活智慧，他的实际考量和对物质的追求，使得堂吉诃德的理想主义显得不那么脱离实际，也为故事增添了接地气的情感。随着故事的发展，堂吉诃德和桑丘之间的关系也发生了微妙的变化，他们互相影响，甚至在某种程度上实现了精神上的融合。 《堂吉诃德》对后世文学产生了深远的影响，它被认为是现代小说的开端。其对人物心理的细致刻画，对社会现实的真实反映，以及对理想与现实之间永恒冲突的探讨，都为后来的作家提供了源源不断的灵感。这部作品以其跨越时空的魅力，继续引发着读者对人生意义、理想追求以及现实困境的思考。 The title of the book is "Don Quixote" (Modern Library Classics). The following is a detailed introduction to the book, without including its content, and written in a way that is not obvious as AI-generated. The response should directly present the content, without repeating the prompt, and without mentioning that the response is AI-generated or conceived. The word count should not exceed 1500 words. "Don Quixote" stands as a monumental epic born from the late Renaissance Spain, captivating readers for centuries with its distinctive humor, profound satire, and multifaceted exploration of human nature. This work transcends a mere tale of knightly adventures; it serves as a mirror reflecting the changing times, the tapestry of society, and the eternal clash between individual ideals and the harsh realities of the world. The protagonist, a country gentleman named Alonso Quixano, consumed by his obsession with chivalric romances, gradually loses his grip on sanity. He becomes convinced that he is a knight-errant destined to revive the glorious age of chivalry. Donning the grandiose title of "Don Quixote," he enlists his meager, bony steed, Rocinante, and persuades a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, to become his loyal squire, promising him the governorship of an island. Don Quixote's grand ambition is to roam the land, righting wrongs, punishing the wicked, and bringing justice to the downtrodden. He dedicates his exploits to his envisioned lady love, a peasant girl named Aldonza, whom he elevates in his mind to the noble Dulcinea del Toboso. However, the world as it is starkly contrasts with the chivalric realm that exists within Don Quixote's mind. Windmills become giants in his eyes; inns transform into castles; and flocks of sheep are perceived as hostile armies. His repeated "battles" invariably end in ignominious defeat, often accompanied by the mockery and beatings of villagers, and sometimes even his return home. Sancho Panza, though frequently bewildered and amused by Don Quixote's madness, remains by his master's side, driven by loyalty and the allure of the promised governorship. In their series of absurd adventures, Sancho acts as a crucial bridge between reality and idealism. His rustic simplicity, pragmatism, and focus on material gain create a poignant contrast with Don Quixote's spiritual pursuits, forming the core of the novel's humor and depth. The author, Miguel de Cervantes, masterfully employs various narrative techniques, weaving Don Quixote's personal adventures with his insightful observations of Spanish society. The diverse array of characters encountered—innkeepers, shepherdesses, nobles, priests, barbers—collectively paint a vivid portrait of Spain's social strata and daily life during that era. Don Quixote's interactions with these individuals, whether met with genuine kindness or malicious trickery, reveal the complexity and diversity of human nature. The enduring legacy of "Don Quixote" as a literary masterpiece stems not only from its engaging plot and humorous prose but also from its profound thematic resonance. Don Quixote's unwavering devotion to a bygone era embodies an idealism that proves incompatible with a cold, pragmatic society, often leading to ridicule and misunderstanding. Yet, this anachronistic idealism, in a way, becomes a rebellion against a corrupt and hypocritical reality. His madness, to a certain extent, represents a transcendence of mundane existence, symbolizing the indomitable human spirit and the pursuit of excellence. Conversely, Sancho Panza's character is equally compelling. He embodies the wisdom and survival instincts of the common person. His proverbs, drawn from rural life, are rich with practical wisdom, and his grounded considerations and material aspirations prevent Don Quixote's idealism from becoming entirely detached from reality, adding an earthbound emotional layer to the narrative. As the story progresses, the relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho evolves subtly; they influence each other, and in a peculiar way, achieve a spiritual communion. "Don Quixote" has profoundly influenced subsequent literature, widely regarded as the genesis of the modern novel. Its meticulous portrayal of character psychology, its authentic reflection of social realities, and its exploration of the eternal conflict between ideals and reality have provided inexhaustible inspiration for countless writers. With its timeless appeal, this work continues to prompt readers to contemplate the meaning of life, the pursuit of ideals, and the inherent challenges of the human condition.
