The Mexican author Carlos Fuentes has said that when Don Quixote mounted his horse and rode away from his village, the modern world began. Is Don Quixote the world's first modern novel? Is it the world's greatest novel? Many writers have answered yes to both questions. What a pity then if we have not read at least a few of the adventures of the gentleman from La Mancha and his devoted squire, Sancho Panza, who is an important as the knight he serves.

Margaret Hodges's inspired selection of incidents and her engaging retelling will give young readers a pleasurable first taste of Don Quixote's adventures, from the classic battle with the windmills to the hilarious flight on the "flying horse" and Sancho Panza's eventful term as "governor" of his island. Illustrated with Stephen Marchesi's warmly realistic pictures, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza serves as a memorable introduction to a masterpiece of Spanish literature.

From the dust jacket