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One of the greatest books ever written, and often cited as the first modern novel, Miguel de Cervantes\u2019 Don Quixote has been as influential across generations as it is entertaining.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis book is a very good reminder of why we read, why we watch movies, why we need fiction and imagination,\u201d says Antonio Rivas,\u00a0visiting assistant professor of Spanish & Portuguese.\u00a0\u201cIt shows the power of literature, imagination\u2014but also language.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The second volume of the work was published 400 years ago, soon before the author\u2019s April 23, 1616, death, and Dickinson\u2019s annual D\u00eda del Libro will celebrate its anniversary this week. So drop in on any or all of the anniversary events and spend some time with the literary world\u2019s favorite knight errant.<\/span><\/p>\n In 1995, UNESCO designated April 23 as World Book Day to honor books and authors and to encourage everyone to read.\u00a0 This date is significant to many important authors and is also the date that Miguel de Cervantes died.\u00a0 In many Spanish-speaking countries, readers participate in a two-day \u201creadathon,\u201d an event that features a continuous reading of Cervantes\u2019s masterpiece Don Quixote.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n In honor of World Book Day and Miguel Cervantes’s birthday, the Spanish and Portuguese department hosts a continuous read-a-thon of Don Quixote in various languages.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n