Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra[b] (/sərˈvæntiːz/;[2] Spanish: [miˈɣel de θerˈβantes saaˈβeðɾa]; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616),[3] often known mononymously as Cervantes, was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright.
His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered to be the first modern European novel,[4] is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written.[5] His influence on the Spanish language has been so great that the language is often called la lengua de Cervantes ("the language of Cervantes").[6] He was dubbed El Príncipe de los Ingenios ("The Prince of Wits"). (...) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes acc. 15/01/15