Marking The 400th Anniversary Of Cervantes' Death

Published May 11, 2016 at 1:20 PM EDT

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Actors recite passages of the book "Don Quixote" as they perform during a commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes' death at Las Cortes (Spanish parliament) in Madrid on April 21, 2016. This week Spain marks the fourth centenary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of the world-famous novel "Don Quixote", who died on April 22, 1616 in Madrid but the event has always been commemorated on the 23rd -- the day when he was buried -- coinciding with the passing of British literary co-star Shakespeare. (GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Last month the world marked the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, but few paid attention to the work and life of Miguel De Cervantes, who died within days of his more famous English contemporary. Here & Now host Meghna Chakrabarti talks with Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans about Cervantes and his seminal work, “Don Quixote.”

Hear the original story from Radio Boston

Guest

Ilan Stavans, professor of Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College, author of “Quixote: The Novel And The World.” He tweets @IlanStavans.