Versions of Don Quixote

The great Spanish Classic, written by Cervantes, about an idealistic, mad, knight errant, "Don Quixote" & his many adventures is a very long novel in two parts. Eccentric behaviour is called "Quixotic" because of this.

Inspired by this work, many works of literature & music have been produced. Graham Greene wrote "Monsignor Quixote" set in the first half of the twentieth century, featuring a similarly idealistic Catholic priest, who travels across Spain.

Salman Rushdie produced "Don Quichotte", where the character of a travelling salesman, in love with his "Dulcinea", an American TV Star, sets out to win her, laying bare the materialism of USA.

The work also has inspired classical  musicians to compose musical works. Jules Massenet, the French Composer, wrote the opera "Don Quichotte" with a French Libretto.

Richard Strauss composed the orchestral tone poem "Don Quixote" (in Theme &  Variations Form) with Cello representing the Don. Like Strauss's other works, this is also an orchestral showpiece, almost a Cello Concerto.

An adaptation as a musical was also made on Broadway & later a film called "Man of La Mancha" starting Peter O'Toole & Sophia Loren.