Forget everything you think you know about Miguel de Cervantes. Galatea is his first novel, and it's a world away from the windmills and misadventures of Don Quixote.

The Story

The book follows a group of lovelorn shepherds and shepherdesses living in an idealized version of rural Spain. The main thread involves Elicio and Erastro, two shepherds both in love with the beautiful shepherdess Galatea. Their story weaves through a larger cast of characters, each sharing their own tales of unrequited love, jealousy, and heartbreak. The plot is less about action and more about conversation—characters recite poems, debate the nature of love and fortune, and tell romantic stories within the story.

Why You Should Read It

Reading Galatea is like finding the first sketch of a master painter. You can see the early brilliance of Cervantes' character observations and his playful way with language, even if the pastoral setting feels dated. It’s fascinating to watch him experiment with the novel form before he revolutionized it. The characters, for all their poetic speeches, feel genuinely human in their stubborn passions and foolish choices.

Final Verdict

This is a book for the curious Cervantes fan, not the casual reader. It's perfect for anyone who loves literary history and wants to see where a great writer began. If you enjoy slow, talky classics that explore emotion and philosophy over plot, you'll find a lot to love here. Just don't expect any tilting at windmills.