Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, an Early Modern Spanish writer, is widely celebrated as one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language and a pre-eminent novelist globally. He achieved fame for his novel Don Quixote, hailed as the first modern novel and the first significant novel of world literature. In 2002, it was voted the "most meaningful book of all time" by a poll of 100 well-known authors, marking its place among the most central works in world literature.

Cervantes's life was marked by poverty and obscurity, with many of his early works lost. Nonetheless, his monumental influence on literature is evident, so much so that the Spanish language is often referred to as "the language of Cervantes". His military career began in 1570, serving in the Spanish Navy infantry regiment, where he sustained severe injuries at the Battle of Lepanto that resulted in the loss of his left arm and hand. Captured by Barbary pirates in 1575, he spent five years in captivity before being ransomed and returning to Madrid.

Beyond Don Quixote, Cervantes authored La Galatea, Novelas ejemplares (Exemplary Novels), Viaje del Parnaso (Journey to Parnassus), and Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses (Eight Plays and Eight Interludes). His posthumously published work Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda (The Travails of Persiles and Sigismunda) further added to his legacy.