Miguel de Cervantes, considered one of the greatest Spanish writers, was born in 1547. His most influential work, Don Quixote, published in 1605, is regarded as the first modern novel. Cervantes also wrote the pastoral novel La Galatea in 1585. He participated in many military campaigns and was wounded at the Battle of Lepanto before being held captive in Algiers for several years. Cervantes struggled with debts and lack of recognition later in life before dying in 1616, the same year as William Shakespeare.

1. Cervantes´ work
By Bea Rodríguez and Celia Guirado

2. On 9 October 1547, Miguel de Cervantes, “Prince of Geniuses”, the fourth of seven children born to
Rodrigo de Cervantes and Leonor de Cortinas, was baptised at Santa María la Mayor Parish Church in
Alcalá de Henares. His most influential work, also regarded as the first modern novel, is Don Quijote. He
also wrote a pastoral novel, La Galatea in 1585. As an enlisted infantry soldier he took part in many
campaigns and was wounded at the battle of Lepanto. He was held captive in Algiers and was in prison
in Seville and Valladolid. He was driven by debts and lack of recognition to enter the Espírtu Santo
Convent and the Third Order of the Franciscans. He died before his favourite work was published: “Los
trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda”. He is widely considered to be the greatest Spanish writer of all time.
Cervantes is often compared to Shakespeare—they were exact contemporaries, even dying in the same
year—as one of the greatest writers of all time.

3.  La Galatea is a novel by Miguel de Cervantes published in
1585 and originally entitled as “Primera parte de la Galatea:
dividida en seis libros” (First Part of Galatea, divided into
Six Books). Despite his clear wishes, as he held the work in
very high esteem, the author was never able to write the
second part.
 The main plot tells the story of two shepherds who fall in
love with Galatea, although she prefers to maintain her
independence.
 It is believed that the novel aims to follow the path started
by "Diana" by Jorge de Montemayor, or "Diana enamorada"
by Gil Polo. Beneath the outer appearance of a pastoral
novel, the work by Cervantes is in reality a psychological
study of love.

4.  Richard Powers - This person is a writer who has recently
returned from abroad, where he was living with a lover
of ten years.
 C. - This person met a lover at university and later
returned to Europe to live near family.
 Philip Lentz - This person is a cognitive neuroscientist
working at the Center for the Study of Advanced
Sciences.
 Helen - This person is the final iteration of a machine that sits
for a literature exam and competes against a human
being.
 Taylor - This person inspires a student to change majors to
literature.
 Diana Hartrick - This person specializes in doing associative
representation formation in the hippocampus.
 Ram Gupta - This person is a perception researcher who
recently emigrated from India.
 Harold Plover - This person has two daughters who often
come into the lab to observe the progress on the
machine.

5.  The novel is set somewhere near the banks of the river
Tajo. The main plot is about Elicio and Erastro who are
two pastors in love with Galatea, a very pretty girl. But
Galatea loves her independence and doesn´t want to be
with anyone. She is going to cause suffering to both
boys who fight and try to get the love of Galatea.