No Ordinary Man: The Life and Times of Miguel de Cervantes

by Donald P. McCrory

"A fascinating story."—Choice
"A remarkable achievement."—Sunday Herald
For the general reader, as well as students and historians, this absorbing study chronicles the life and work of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616). World-renowned as the author of Don Quixote, the "Spanish Shakespeare" led an adventurous and fruitful life that encompassed widely disparate roles—spy, lover, soldier, hostage, tax collector, poet, playwright, and, most notably, creator of the first European novel.
This biography is based on new original research, and incorporates previously unpublished material on Cervantes' long period of captivity in Algiers; also, his involvement with piracy in the Mediterranean and with espionage and the Spanish Armada; and his work as an agent of the Spanish government. Containing significant details never before available in English, it is an important contribution to the understanding of a unique literary figure.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Spanish Literature

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Chris Via]

As any good biographer/scholar would do, McCrory takes all Cervantine studies and synthesizes them with his own research and ideas, while also pointing out the failures (i.e. conjectures) and successes of his scholarly forebears. A good primer for the trajectory of a genius who offers the world an enduring masterpiece despite setback after setback.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

He wasn't. Miguel de Cervantes that is. But he was almost as elusive a figure as Shakespeare, right down to the doubt as to whether they really did die on the same day (23 April 1616). There's a bit more flesh on his life story: Cervantes fought at the Battle of Lepanto, rising from his sick bed to take part and receiving a wound that left his left hand permanently maimed; he was captured by Barbary Coast pirates and kept as a slave in Algiers for five years; he served the king of Spain as official and tax collector. But there are as many blanks as filled-out pages. McCrory does a good job of telling what we know and makes reasonable guesses as to what we don't. He's also good at setting Cervantes' world in context. But it is, unlike Cervantes himself, a trifle worthy and just a little bit dull. Still, an excellent introduction to the man behind the man from La Mancha.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

So. Dry. It had the potential to be an amazing biography, there is adventure, intrigue, captivity, daring escape attempts, so many exciting things, and yet the author managed to drag it all down and make it dull and bland. I'll be looking for another Cervantes bio.

[Jeanne Lambrianou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed to know him to know Don Quixote...

But this book didn't do that for me. Too much Court machination, financial detail, cultural competition. This was touted as non-scholarly readable. It wasn't. Still, I gave it a 3, because of the obvious work done. Now, on to "Don Quixote" itself...