Writing Style of Don Quixote

The writing style in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is unlike anything I have ever read before. The book begins with a prologue by Cervantes in which he speaks directly to the reader; the first sentence of the book is, "Idle reader: I don't have to swear any oaths to persuade you that I should like this book." (1) This informal dialogue between the reader and Cervantes continues throughout the prologue, in which he describes the relationship between him and his book through the metaphor of a father and his 'defective' son. What Cervantes is essentially telling the reader is that the following book is not perfect, but he isn't writing to please you. Phrases like "I'd have liked to give it to you plain and naked..." and "Because I can tell you that, although it was quite and effort to write this book..." (12) give the feeling that the author is speaking with you as a friend would. The informal writing style does not end with the prologue, however. Cervantes continues to address the reader directly, and even makes a cameo in the first part of the novel. Cervantes's cameo comes during a scene where a priest and members of Don Quixote's family are deciding which of our protagonist's novels deserved to be burned for corrupting his mind. One of the novels that the priest looks at happens to be "Galatea by Miguel de Cervantes." (58)

The reason for this informal style is part of the book is about the work the authors of the History of Don Quixote de la Mancha did in order to write the novel. Part I ends abruptly in the middle of a battle between Don Quixote and the Basque. Cervantes then begins to address the reader directly, in order to tell him/her that the author had unfortunately left the battle unfinished, but not to worry, because "...the second author of this work refused to believe that such a fascinating history had been abandoned to the laws of oblivion." (70) The second part of the novel thus begins with Cervantes telling the reader how he found the rest of The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha.

I have never before read such an informal book. Don Quixote is written in a manner that makes it seem as if he was a real person, and Cervantes was tasked with finding and creating a complete history of the amazing knight. Cervantes speaks directly to the reader about his task at several points, making it feel as if the author is writing the very book as you read it.