The Exemplary Novels

Miguel de Cervantes · 1547–1616 · Spain

Originally Novelas ejemplares (Spanish)

Why it matters

Twelve short novels, gypsy girls, jealous merchants, talking dogs, published between Don Quixote's two parts to prove the form could work at any length. Cervantes basically imports the Italian novella into Spanish and makes it his own.

At a glance

Twelve tonally varied tales in period Spanish idiom, best read a few at a time.