Miguel de Cervantes’ DON QUIXOTE is one of the most well-known and read stories of all time. The adventures of Don Quixote (also referred to as the Man of La Mancha) and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza, a simple farmer, are immediately memorable and recognizable. Cervantes’ classic has inspired many other literary giants, including Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens and Alexandre Dumas.

The central theme of DON QUIXOTE is one of social commentary. The two lead figures are literary sounding boards for the common man in the face of the chaotic madness that comprises the world around them. They symbolize all that is good and decent in men, despite living in a society where common decency and goodness seem completely bereft. The book spawned many different versions, including both straight plays and musicals about the duo.

This brings us to Salman Rushdie’s latest novel, QUICHOTTE, a title that is impossible to look at without thinking of Cervantes’ work. Rushdie is, regrettably, infamous and probably best known for his 1988 release, THE SATANIC VERSES, which so angered many followers of the Muslim religion that death threats are still made against him. It is a shame that this always will be his epithet as he is one of the greatest living authors on the planet. His second novel, 1981's MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, is widely considered one of the best books of all time.

"This extremely clever novel is a challenging and highly rewarding read that makes me want to go back and revisit certain passages to make sure I didn't miss anything."

QUICHOTTE takes the Cervantes legend and sets it in the modern world. When you think of characters conversing and acting amidst a sea of madness and danger, you need look no further than the current state of our world. Sam DuChamp is a mediocre writer at best who has made a career out of primarily penning spy novels. It is he who comes up with the character of Quichotte. He sees his creation as a man seeking love and believing that love will find a way. Quichotte is addicted to television and is impossibly in love with a TV heroine who is so far out of his league that he may as well be playing in a different sport than her.

Quichotte needs someone to keep him sane and accompany him on his mission to slay his personal dragon --- the heart of his beloved but distant Miss Salma R. This role is given to the character of Sancho. Unlike the Sancho Panza from DON QUIXOTE, this Sancho has some insanely unique traits: he is Quichotte’s teenage son, and is completely imaginary and can be seen only by Quichotte. If you aren't intrigued by this point, I'm not sure what else would spur you to dig in for a wild ride.

Like the source material from which it is drawn, QUICHOTTE finds the central character seeing himself as a knight on a quest for his own grail --- the love of the fair maiden whose hand he intends to win. Meanwhile, Sancho, as a creation of Quichotte, is bound only by the limits of his creator’s imagination. This makes for some very satirical and scathing views on modern society. We have the obvious midlife crisis of his middle-aged protagonist, as well as the depiction of love and its many levels and dimensions. Quichotte firmly believes that with love in your heart, anything can happen.

QUICHOTTE is a novel not to be read but experienced. It is a high-level lampooning of modern society across the planet in the hands of a masterful writer operating with all of his finest literary gifts. Through this story, we touch on topics like the two political parties in the U.S. and how absurdly far apart they are on pretty much everything. We also travel through the present opioid epidemic that threatens to go global; the Brexit controversy in modern-day Europe; and the #MeToo movement in all its various forms and incarnations. Trust me, this only scratches the surface of topics that are tackled here.

This extremely clever novel is a challenging and highly rewarding read that makes me want to go back and revisit certain passages to make sure I didn't miss anything. Don Quixote rides high in the saddle once again in the form of Quichotte, and we are lucky to have him back.