After a lifetime of reading books on chivalry in his library, the eccentric Don Quixote embarks on a quest to become a wandering knight, accompanied by his hapless servant, Sancho Panza. Don Quixote sets off on a comedic journey through medieval Spain, in a series of clumsy adventures, tilting at windmills and rescuing those even more hopeless than himself. This edition of Don Quixote is abridged, to offer a less daunting, more accessible version of the work to the reader. FLAME TREE's Great Works That Shape Our World is a new series of definitive books drawing on ancient, medieval and modern writing. Offering a fund of essential knowledge, and spell-binding stories it satisfies every facet of human interest: scientific, philosophical, sociological, romantic, dramatic and mysterious. From the ancient wisdom of the Mahabharata to the curious power of Don Quixote, Boccaccio's Decameron and Melville's classic Moby Dick, from the scientific wonders of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein to the great thinkers of Western and Asian philosophy. Created to entertain, inform and enrich, the new series brings infinite variety to refresh the mind, presented in beautiful editions for the modern market. Each book features a new, accessible introduction , specially written for these editions, placing the book in context both as part of the new series, and highlighting its special contribution to the advancement of human understanding; they examine the significance of each work, their impact at time of publication, and their influence today.