Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes' epic novel Don Quixote has engaged the minds of readers for 400 years in various translations, as well as inspired art and adaptations for ballet, film, and even a Broadway musical. The book has challenged thinkers such as Faulkner, Freud, and Dostoevsky with its philosophical issues, yet also entertained readers with its fantasy and satire of social mores. Wonderfully narrated by Donald Sutherland, this four-part program from Discovery Channel's Great Books series introduces biographical and historical context for a discussion of the development of the various themes, combining dramatic scenes, seamlessly edited illustrations, and commentary by devotees, including author Carlos Fuentes (The Buried Mirror), statesman Mario Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa of Guardian Angel fame. Featuring a teacher's guide and lesson plan (as well as helpful extras on the DVD version such as thematic units and a slide show), this is a superb educational program that will appeal to modern young viewers. And book clubs take note: Edith Grossman's new translation has generated lots of buzz and critical kudos, and this program would make great supplementary viewing. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)