In literary studies, few names carry as much weight as that of Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa. A leading figure in Cervantine studies, Prof. Sliwa is on the verge of publishing his magnum opus, Vida de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Penguin Random House). This monumental biography, spanning nearly 2,000 pages, promises to redefine our understanding of Spain’s most celebrated writer. Drawing on an impressive archive of 4,350 documents—2,547 unpublished—Prof. Sliwa meticulously reconstructs Cervantes’ life, from his military exploits and captivity in Algiers to his lesser-known commissions in Andalusia. The book also delves into the intricate relationship between Cervantes’ professional life and his family environment, offering a richer and more nuanced portrait of the man behind Don Quijote.

Cover of the book “Vida de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra,” written by renowned Cervantist Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa. The image shows the cover design.

 

Prof. Sliwa’s work is not merely a biography; it is a revelation. With 565 works cited, 4,874 footnotes, and 370 new biographical contributions, this book is an academic tour de force. A philologist, historian, and scholar, Prof. Sliwa is unafraid to challenge established narratives and engage in scholarly debates. His dedication to uncovering the truth about Cervantes has made him a polarizing yet respected figure in his field. This book, the result of decades of research, is poised to become an indispensable resource for scholars and a fascinating read for anyone interested in the life and times of Miguel de Cervantes.

              Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa Returns with a Grand Biography of the Hero of Lepanto

Born in Poland and trained in Europe and the United States, Sliwa holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from Florida State University. His academic journey has taken him from the Autonomous University of Barcelona to the University of Hildesheim and the Jagiellonian University, granting him a unique interdisciplinary perspective. A prolific author, Prof. Sliwa has written twenty books on figures of Spain’s Golden Age, such as Calderón de la Barca, Lope de Vega, and of course, Cervantes. His work has been published in multiple languages, cementing his reputation as a global authority on Spanish literature. Prof. Sliwa is also an advisory board member of the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC, ISSN 2788-8991), recognized for his notable contributions to literature, history, cultural studies, and his commitment to promoting the humanities as a vital element in the enrichment of human knowledge.

The Interview

In this exclusive interview, Prof. Sliwa reflects on the lasting legacy of Cervantes, the mysteries that still surround his life, and the challenges of biographical research. He discusses the posthumous success of Don Quijote, the enigmas surrounding Cervantes’ family, and the importance of his military career. Prof. Sliwa also shares his ongoing research projects, his philosophy as a biographer, and his vision for the future of Cervantine studies. His responses reveal a scholar deeply committed to truth, willing to confront controversy, and passionate about celebrating the life of one of the greatest writers in history.

Few writers have left such an indelible mark on world literature as Miguel de Cervantes. However, despite his fame, much of his life remains shrouded in mystery. This is where Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa comes in, the scholar who has dedicated his career to unraveling the enigmas of Cervantes’ life. In his latest biography, Prof. Sliwa brings to light previously unknown documents, offering new perspectives on the author’s military service, his captivity in North Africa, and the complexities of his family life.

Today, we sit down with Prof. Krzysztof Sliwa to discuss his groundbreaking work. We explore Cervantes’ contributions to literature, the enduring appeal of Don Quijote, and the many unanswered questions that continue to intrigue scholars. Sliwa also shares his thoughts on the challenges of biographical research, the importance of historical accuracy, and the future of Cervantine studies. Join us as we delve into the life and legacy of Miguel de Cervantes, guided by one of the leading experts on the subject.

1. What was Cervantes’ greatest contribution to universal literature?

It is not known exactly, which is why Miguel and Spain urgently deserve exhaustive research, carried out in Latin American countries, even globally, from the release of Don Quijote to the present day, to fully understand the cultural impact of Cervantes on the development of literature in Latin America and throughout the world. Without this, everything is an undocumented conjecture.

Without a doubt, Cervantes and his works profoundly transformed universal literature and the world.

For me, Miguel leaves his Spanish legacy on all the issues at the heart of humanity. Cervantes is the leaven of hope in the world, and Don Quijote is a miraculous, ineffable gift to the world.

2. Is it true that Don Quijote had a great posthumous success? Do you agree with this opinion?

No, it is another fantasy of some Cervantists. Cervantes knows the success of Don Quijote because he declares: «I do not print my books to achieve fame in the world, since I am already known for my works; I had come to light in the world with general applause from the people; and I believe that today more than 12 thousand books of the story have been printed in Portugal, Barcelona, Valencia, and Antwerp».

Manuel Vicente Sánchez Moltó describes the detractors thus: «As soon as one tries to delve deeper into the matter, a great lack of knowledge immediately surfaces. They do not know the life, nor the personal circumstances, nor – and this is perhaps the worst – the literary work of Cervantes».

3. Are there many enigmas about the life of Cervantes and his family?Yes, there are many… as an example, those of his ancestors, his family, his brother Rodrigo, his friends and his enemies. In short, there is still a lot of work to do, much to discover, rediscover, discard, verify, and conclude. That is why my biography of the brilliant soldier and hero Cervantes will continue, since his life and that of his relatives is a life sealed with seven seals.

4. Who is Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra for you?
For me, Cervantes is a man of flesh and blood of the Renaissance and the Baroque. He is a hero of Lepanto, of Algiers, of humor, of the pen and of Spain. After having studied more than 30,000 documents of the Golden Age and more than 1,000 works, I have never seen so many lies against anyone. Time will do justice to Cervantes, the best writer in the world, even though some biographers spread falsehoods that everything has been said about Cervantes and there is nothing more. Still, they have not seen anything, only the first step has been taken, that is, half of 1 percent.

For me, Cervantes is the only and most brilliant, eminent, and sublime thing that Spain had in the course of the last four centuries. Cervantes is a diamond and his brilliance has not yet been discovered.

5. What are your research projects, what do you recommend to biographers, what is your motto?
For now, I ask God to give me good health and a patron, for example, a duke, count or marquis because I have some projects, never executed, of great magnitude. I continue with Miguel’s biography and I put all of Cervantes’ documents through the rigorous sieve. His biography will continue.

I am devoting myself, among others, to the magnificent History of my beloved Tercio Viejo de Sicilia, Cervantes’ last military unit, and the glorious History of Spain, which I promised to my two dear friends from Spain, whom I never met in person and I thank them for their excellent help.

I wish you all that your soul of research is always the spirit of truth, that not a single point of truth ever comes out in your studies, and that the great Cervantine spirit continues to shine in you.

6. Why are you publishing your second biography of Cervantes?
Before answering your question, I would like to thank Juan Díaz, the editorial director, and Martín Schifino, my editor, for their invaluable help in bringing my work to light.

My new biography, imbued with the spirit of the times, was written out of love for the truth and the brilliant History and Literature of Spain, precious pearls.

My goal was to discover and defend the truth, at all costs, about Cervantes, his family, and his friends and to refute many Crassus errata of scholars with new legal documents.

In the biography, the voice of the protagonist is heard, I reject those who invent, manipulate, silence, and misinterpret Miguel’s words and his documentation and I oppose the serious offenses of some 21st-century academics against Cervantes, his family, and his friends without documenting it.

For me, it was Cervantes who taught me how to write a story of his life by saying that “history is like a sacred thing because it must be true and where there is truth, there is God.”

7. Can you provide a list of biographies published in the 21st century?
Yes, 16 biographies were published, 12 by Spanish literature professors, historians, lawyers, journalists, poets, and writers, and 4 by foreign professors. Among the Spanish biographers are: Alfredo Alvar Ezquerra; Manuel Fernández Álvarez; Manuel Lacarta Salvador, Antonio Rey Hazas; Jorge García López; Jordi Gracia José Manuel Lucía Megías, José Miguel Cabañas y Agrela, Andrés Trapiello, Alfonso Dávila Oliveda, Álvaro Espina and Santiago Muñoz Machado.

The 4 foreign biographies: Cervantes, by the Frenchman Jean Canavaggio; No Ordinary Man. The Life and Times of Miguel de Cervantes, by the Irishman Donald P. McCrory; Miguel de Cervantes: ein wildes Leben: Biografie, by the German Uwe Neumahr; and Vida de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, by Krzysztof Sliwa, published by Edition Reichenberger, the only biography written in Spanish by a foreigner.

I would also like to highlight the 4 biographies about Cervantes’ relatives: Catalina. Source of inspiration for Cervantes, by Sabino de Diego Romero; and the 3 biographies of Emilio Maganto Pavón: Ana de Villafranca, lover of Miguel de Cervantes; Isabel de Saavedra; and The Villafranca family.

I thank you for your precious contributions and I ask the Government of Spain and Academies to organize a conference with biographers, documentary filmmakers, military and religious people dedicated to the current state of the biography of the brilliant Miguel. I ask that everyone be awarded. It is time to unite efforts to advance along the path of success. Unity is the key to our success.

8. Can you name some new documentary features of your biography?
For the first time, I document that Cervantes was a member of “a secret band” in Algiers, I show that Dr. Antonio de Sosa spoke of the church of the Christians in Algiers and I spread the oldest autograph signature of November 8, 1580, discovered by Jesús Villalmanzo.

I am disclosing the new documents on the real characters of Don Quijote, discovered by Sabino de Diego Romero, about Archidona, Écija, Niebla, Pilas, La Puebla de Cazalla or Utrera and hundreds of new details about his relatives and friends, located by the documentary makers of the 21st century.

I certify that Cervantes had friends and relatives in Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru and was awarded the commemorative medal of the Battle of Lepanto, ordered by Pius V, with one of the Battle of Lepanto and the one of the Conquest of Tunisia, ordered by Don Juan of Austria.

9. Who are the Cervantine documentary makers of the 21st century?
There are 41 illustrious documentary makers, I congratulate them on their discoveries and thank them for their exemplary help: Mercedes Agullo and Cobo, Jose Fernando Alcaide Aguilar, Francisco Javier Campos and Fernandez de Sevilla, Juan Carlos Alvarez Millan, Jose Barros Campos, Carlos Belloso Martin, Antonio Bonilla, Fernando Bouza Alvarez, Jose Cabello Nunez, Margarita Cabrera Sanchez, Jose Maria Carmona Dominguez, Pelayo Castillo Palacios, Alfonso Davila Oliveda, Sabino de Diego Romero, Gervasio di Cesare, Miguel Angel Dominguez Rubio, Francisco Javier Escudero Buendia, Miguel Angel Galdon Sanchez, Ramon Gonzalez Navarro, Pedro Manuel Guibovich Perez, Jorge Alberto Jordan Fernandez, Ignacio Latorre Zacares, Francisco Ledesma Gamez, Emilio Maganto Pavon, Francisco Jose Marin Perellon, Marina Martin Ojeda, Julio Mayo Rodriguez, Bartolome Miranda Diaz, Manuel Mora Ruiz, Antonio Moreno Hurtado, Rafael Muñoz García, Ana Naseiro Ramudo, Luis Fernando Palma Robles, Pedro Javier Rivas, Eduardo Peñalver Gómez, Antonio Sánchez del Barrio, Juan Luis Sánchez Martín, Jaime Sánchez Romeralo, Jesús Antonio de la Torre Briceño, María del Carmen Vaquero y Serrano and Jesús Villalmanzo.

10. Where was Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra born? Is his birthplace documented?
We searched for the birth certificate and at the same time, at least, the 12 towns tried to be Miguel’s birthplaces. His baptism was celebrated on October 9, 1547, in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor in Alcalá de Henares by the priest Bartolomé Serrano and his godfather was the illustrious Alonso Pérez. His birth is uncertain in the city of Alcalá, in the court of Madrid, in the village of Villanueva de los Infantes, in Valladolid, in the church of Santa María la Real, or the mansion of the Imperial.

11. Did Cervantes have Jewish-converso family origins?

To date, there is no legal document relating to his hypothetical Jewish-converso lineage, and legitimate data confirms that his parents, Leonor and Rodrigo, were not of Moorish or Jewish, converso, or reconciled descent. They were always old Christians.

José Manuel Bailón Blancas states that “some biographers and commentators of Miguel de Cervantes have distorted, obscured, or even perverted aspects, profiles, and chapters of the character, forgetting the fixed points of repeated figures, without listening to either Cervantes or his creations. And, paying attention to themselves, they have only perceived his thoughts muffled.”

12. Was Cervantes Catholic, converso, Jewish, Moorish, or Protestant? Are there any documents?

There is no data to support that Cervantes was a converso, Jewish, Moorish, or Protestant, and those who claim that Miguel was Jewish reject his declaration that he was “a mortal enemy of the Jews.”

For me, Cervantes was Catholic. He loved God, and God was his inspiration for Don Quijote, the jewel of world literature. The Bible was his model for the organizational structure of Don Quijote, and it is part of the book. His virtuous wife Catalina, crown and love of the Manco, was his source of human inspiration.

13. Did Cervantes read the Bible?

Yes, Cervantes demonstrated impeccable knowledge of the Bible throughout his works. In the prologue to Part I of Don Quijote, he referred to it three times as “divine scripture.” In his works, he alludes to 30 biblical characters and makes 300 references to the Bible. Alfonso Ropero Berzosa asserts that Don Quijote is illuminated by the Christian Bible, and José Luis Abellán García-González says that Don Quijote is the Spanish Bible.

Cervantes fully understood the value of the Bible, spoke of the truth in the Holy Scriptures, and recommended reading it: “If you wish to read books of feats and chivalry, read in the Sacred Scripture the ‘Book of Judges,’ and there you will find grand truths and deeds as true as they are valiant.”

14. Did Cervantes flee a duel with Antonio Sigura to Italy?

Yes, without dispute, this concerns our Cervantes, not the other as falsely reproduced by some Cervantists without authentic data. I document that Miguel was not a student but a harquebusier. He participated in the War of the Alpujarras with his brother Rodrigo and was enlisted in the Tercio of Lope de Figueroa. New documents by Antonio Hurtado Moreno and fragments from Novelas Ejemplares notably confirm this. The first arrest order against Miguel must be discovered.

 

15. Why do you firmly defend Cervantes as a brilliant infantry soldier?

I document that Miguel was already a soldier in March 1568. He enlisted as a soldier of opportunity under the “Duke of Iron,” later becoming a harquebusier in the Tercio Costa de Granada of Lope de Figueroa, and had his first baptism of fire in “the war with fire and blood.”

Cervantes, a trusted soldier, loved God and the King, for the King was Spain, the invincible Old Tercios, and “the father of soldiers” Álvaro de Bazán. The magnificent soldier always measured up.

His feats and concept of military service honor him as a brilliant and exemplary soldier.

16. What are some new documentary revelations about his military service in Italy?

Cervantes wanted to be and was a soldier. He had more weapons than letters and knew very well that once a soldier, always a soldier. According to Carlos Belloso Martín, Cervantes was stationed in military bases in Malta, Syracuse, and Villafranca. Juan Luis Sánchez Martín proves he was with Francisco de Aldana on the Navarino expedition, and Miguel Ángel Domínguez Rubio debunks the errors about his continuous stay in Naples. The words of Brigadier General Rafael Dávila Álvarez represent Miguel: “There is nothing like the Spanish soldier, and my only aspiration has always been to be up to his level.”

17. What did Cervantes’ war experience in the Mediterranean teach him?

For the first time, I document that Miguel was no novice at Lepanto, and there were never two Miguel de Cervantes coexisting at Lepanto. These errors arise from faulty data analysis.

Cervantes, as a military leader, teaches us the importance of love for God, country, and neighbor—an example to imitate. For instance, he says that the honor gained through war is the most steadfast of all honors and that authorities have the right to use force to maintain peace.

For me, Miguel was, is, and always will be the hero of Lepanto, the Levantine Mediterranean, Navarino, Tunisia, Algiers, Mostaganem, and Oran. For Cervantes, the magnificent and advanced soldier, serving under the Sacred Banner of “his beloved Spain,” the soul of every soldier and the heart of Spain, was a divine virtue.

18. Can you name some of Cervantes’ military virtues and values?

His military experience taught him to live with military ethics, honor, integrity, justice, obedience, holy purity, and courage. He fostered the values of military leadership spirit that inspired others. His self-discipline was the optimal discipline and always held in the highest regard.

His works and documents attest to his brilliant spirit of military leadership and exemplary heroism in the Elite Special Forces. His values and virtues mark a milestone in our military history.

For me, his precision in service was splendid, and for Miguel, the brilliant soldier-writer of Spain’s infantry, dying for Spain and Christian Europe was the greatest honor he could receive.

19. According to some biographers, Cervantes enjoyed life in Algiers. What is the truth?

First, I correct serious errors by some biographers. Brother Juan Gil never returned with Cervantes and the 8 ex-captives to Denia. Only 5 ex-captives returned, and the beloved Father Gil stayed in Algiers. Secondly, there are Cervantists who view Cervantes’ savage slavery through rose-colored glasses.

Cervantes wrote that for more than 5 years “they put a chain on him, and thus he spent his life in that bath.” The chain weighed 11 or 14 kilos. I do not understand how this fantasy is published.

For me, Miguel always fought until his last drop of blood amidst fire, blood, and carnage and was willing to pay the highest price for Spain. It is also unproven that he earned money inappropriately. Father Gil gave alms of 5,000 maravedís to Sosa, Miguel’s friend, and according to Islamic law, slaves could earn their living. The contract was called mukataba.

20. You call Cervantes a hero of Algiers. Why?

Yes, for me, Cervantes was a hero of Algiers, and his conduct was impeccable. The silenced truth is that according to the Royal Ordinances, Miguel’s military obligation, as a prisoner soldier in Algiers, was to conduct himself as a soldier in his behavior toward the enemy and his fellow captives and do everything possible to escape and help his friends do the same. Some biographers claim he did this to gain a profit. One anecdote: he didn’t need to. His service record was brilliant and exemplary.

Still, there is an obsession with “looking for suitors” without documentation. Emilio Sola and José de la Pena warn that “Cervantists get entangled in the discussion of ‘the sex of angels’ – formalities and symbolisms – especially the sector that is perhaps less sincere, more defensive of interests and clientelism, which has little to do with the great lesson that is historical Cervantes. It only serves to ‘kick the ball out.’”

Cervantes, upon returning from brutal captivity to his beloved Spain, kissed its holy ground with his tears. Cervantes laid down his arms, but he never stopped being a soldier at heart, fact, and right.

21. Was Cervantes an occasional or professional spy for Philip II?

To this day there is no documentation, but he had a family legacy of espionage, he was the “son and grandson of people from the Tribunal of the Holy Office of Cordoba”, he acted as secret police, “he was the eyes, hands, and ears of the Inquisition”. He was a spy for the Friedensfürst secret services, he collaborated with merchant spies such as the Gasparo Corso brothers and organized sabotage in Italy, Malta, and Algiers.

As royal commissioner, he carried out commercial espionage activities and sent secret correspondence to the suppliers of the galleys and the Council of State about illegal commercial networks and the illicit distribution of different products on the black market in Andalusia.

22. What do we know about Cervantes’ spy missions to Oran and Mostagan in North Africa?
Cervantes’ espionage activities, particularly in Oran and Mostagan, are suggested to have influenced his writing of El Gallardo Español. His espionage work remains mysterious, with questions about when he started serving the Spanish Empire, his proficiency in the language of spies, the cryptographic systems he mastered, and the duration of his service in Spanish Intelligence.

His connections with key figures such as Juan de Idiáquez, Luis Valle de la Cerda, and other secret agents speak to his likely involvement in this covert world. Further exploration of works by Alfonso Dávila Oliveda, Álvaro Espina, Fernando Martínez Laínez, and Enrique Martínez Ruiz may shed light on these activities.

23. What do you think of Cervantes’ patriotism?
Cervantes’ patriotism is reflected in his actions, such as his escape from Spain with symbolic items like the Hours of Our Lady and a Garcilaso, echoing the sentiment of figures like Frederic Chopin. His deep affection for Spain is seen in his lament on the shores of Algiers, where he expresses the pain of being separated from his homeland. Cervantes’ declarations of longing for Spain in his writings resonate with his belief in the country’s greatness, though some scholars question the depth of his patriotism. Still, his consistent theme of “Long live Spain!” signals his profound devotion.

24. Was Cervantes excommunicated during his wanderings in Andalusia?
Cervantes did face excommunication during his time in Andalusia, specifically for his role in seizing wheat from the clergy under orders from Philip II and for imprisoning a sacristan. Despite being branded a heretic, there are no clear records detailing the excommunication process. Misunderstandings and unjust accusations against Cervantes, including his character and actions, persist, which calls for a more honest and objective reevaluation of his life.

25. What role did the Golden Age play in the formation of Cervantes as an author?
While no direct evidence of his formal education exists, Cervantes was undoubtedly influenced by the intellectual currents of Spain’s Golden Age. His voracious reading, including scraps of paper on the streets, shaped his intellectual formation. In Algiers, he also engaged with poet Antonio Veneziano and Benedictine Antonio de Sosa. His self-education, coupled with a relentless quest for wisdom and a deep understanding of truth, formed the foundation of his literary achievements.

26. Why do you categorically deny that Cervantes abandoned his wife Catalina?

Cervantes did not abandon his wife, Catalina, or his daughter Isabel. This misconception is rooted in inaccurate historical interpretations. The idea of his abandonment is a fabricated narrative, often perpetuated by misrepresentations of his life. In truth, Cervantes left Esquivias due to his inability to manage land cultivation because of the injury to his left hand. Moreover, there is no documentation of any divorce or separation agreement, and the false claims surrounding his marital life are simply misunderstandings of historical facts.

27. Are there documents about the separation or divorce between Cervantes and his wife Catalina?

No, there is no documented evidence of a separation or divorce between Cervantes and Catalina. False interpretations of legal documents, such as a transfer of power that was awarded to Catalina for property rights, have been misused to fuel the notion of separation. The claim that Cervantes abandoned his family is unfounded and fails to consider the true nature of his actions, which were in line with his love and commitment to his wife and family.

28. Was Cervantes imprisoned in Castro del Río?

The claim that Cervantes was imprisoned in Castro del Río is debunked by recent research, which shows no supporting evidence. There is no record of his arrest on September 19, 1592, and judicial orders from Philip II do not corroborate such an event. The allegations about Cervantes selling the seized wheat are baseless, and the investigation into these claims is flawed due to a lack of honesty in historical analysis.

 

29. Were Cervantes’ imprisonments in Seville fair or unfair?

Cervantes’ imprisonments, particularly in Seville, were unjust. His role as a commissioner, beginning in 1587, was marred by financial mismanagement and errors made by others, which led to his wrongful imprisonment. The charges against him, such as misappropriating funds, were unfounded, and his treatment by the corrupt judge Gaspar de Vallejo highlights the systemic injustices he faced. Cervantes’ diligence and honesty as an official were overlooked, and more detailed research is needed to reveal the full truth of his situation.

30. What was the opinion of Cervantes’ superiors and friends as commissioner and servant of Philip II?

Cervantes was highly regarded by his superiors and colleagues. Documents from José Cabello Núñez, Alfonso Dávila Oliveda, and others indicate that he was trusted, diligent, and acted with integrity. His work as a commissioner for Philip II was praised for his tact and understanding, and his connections with influential figures of the time—such as fellow soldiers, bankers, and poets—reflect the high regard in which he was held by those who truly knew him.

31. Was the Cervantes family linked to the death of the Navarrese Gaspar Ezpeleta?

No, there is no evidence linking the Cervantes family to the death of Gaspar Ezpeleta. The accusations made against Cervantes’ sister Magdalena regarding her involvement with Ezpeleta are entirely unfounded. In truth, Ezpeleta was involved with Inés Hernández, the wife of royal scribe Melchor Galván, and any attempts to implicate the Cervantes family are based on erroneous and unsubstantiated claims. More rigorous research is needed to clear the family’s name from these unfounded accusations.

32. What role did financial difficulties play in his development as a writer?

No one knows whether Cervantes made a fortune or not, and it is not revealed what businesses he engaged in. Isabel and Catalina were well off, and Miguel started businesses, among others, thanks to his beloved mother Leonor. And his beloved sister Andrea declares that he «dealt with business». It is necessary to discover what businesses the Cortinas and Palacios families were engaged in. Cervantes, an expert in the banking system, maintained relations with banks and made payments on loans and banking operations.

Document that was in his job as commissioner and servant of Philip II, where he perfected his business skills. It is not known whether he died poor or not because we do not have his will.

33. What aspects of Cervantes’ personal life most influenced his literary work?

I am sure that there were two transcendental stages of his personal life: the first, before his return from Algiers to Spain, where he fought with the sword, and the second after his return from Algiers to his sweet and beloved Spain, where he fought with the pen, being a man of leadership, ideas and vision and most certainly an inexhaustible typewriter.

34. Are there hidden autobiographical elements in Don Quijote or his Novelas ejemplares?

Yes, there are many autobiographical elements in all his works and his prologues – some supported by reliable documentation and others invented by some Cervantists – for example, loving, emotional, spiritual, military, and moral, and all are very striking. It is essential to discover more documents about Cervantes, his relatives, and his friends.

35. What influence did Cervantes’ relationship with other writers of his time have?

It depends on the writer and the season. At first, he got along well with Lope de Vega, and with Luis de Góngora he got along very well, “a rare and lively genius without a second”, but he satirizes Francisco de Quevedo: “Don Francisco de Quevedo will hardly be able to come”. In truth, more documents are missing, for example, his correspondence and his diaries, and those of his friends and enemies to know what they thought of Miguel.

36. How did Cervantes handle criticism and literary competition during his life?

According to Eduardo Aguirre Romero, Cervantes was a hero of humor and his humor was a miracle. For me, his humor was the best medicine in the good and bad moments of his life. But Miguel was very envied, despised, and humiliated because of his nobility of spirit and his incomparable genius.

In short, Quid Humilitate invidia? What can envy do against humility?

For me, Cervantes was always a winner and he taught us, despite the circumstances, to have faith in God, to fight, to win, and to keep winning… and to maintain the winning spirit until the last breath.

37. How would you describe his sense of humor?

Cervantes always knew perfectly what he wanted to write and also what he did not want to write.

His very healthy humor delights, humanizes, instructs, shows the political vision of his time, incorporates irony, hyperbole, and simplicity – the simple with the complex – and develops the feeling of perfection. His humor and his wisdom are the two most effective weapons of mass destruction, fundamental parts of his works, which destroy stupidity, comfort the soul, and make us think.

38. Did Cervantes know the lawyer Alonso Fernández Avellaneda, author of The Apocryphal Quijote?

Yes, without a doubt. How could a person who wrote Don Quijote, which includes 381,104 words, of these 22,939 different words in the Castilian language, not be able to identify who Avellaneda was while reading his apocryphal work? Cervantes, “the layman’s genius,” had an eidetic memory.

His virtue of discretion and spiritual finesse preserved his intelligence and wisdom. He kept his mind safe and sound and his tongue discreet. He was a very discreet, experienced, and extremely wise man.

39. How would you describe the evolution of Cervantes’ literary style throughout his life?

For me, his theme is more important than his style; what he said is more substantial than how he said it. Cervantes always finds the right word for each style, which is different in each work.

His works are credible and therapeutic because Cervantes knew how to capture the reader’s soul from the beginning, to bring his messages to the reader’s heart, to give soul to his characters and turn them into brilliant people of flesh and blood. Each character is a symbol and represents different realities.

40. In your opinion, who did he pay homage to with his works? And why?

His pen paid an exemplary homage to Spanish society, guarded by his words – and at the same time I allude to it to everyone despite the criticism of some experts – he portrayed it splendidly, he perfectly understood human weaknesses and strengths and knew how to get into the reader’s skin.

He was concerned about the future of Spain, which suffered and mourned the incompetence of its government.

Verisimilitude was the key word in his works, his language had all the power of the word and never has a book, except the Bible, left such a mark on me and many people as Don Quijote.

41. Outside of literature, what knowledge did Cervantes have?

Based on his works and documentation, Cervantes was, for example, an excellent interpreter of the language of the deaf, a cartographer, merchant, accountant, cosmographer, cryptographer, typist, herbalist, historian, interpreter, jurist, executive judge of the Accounting Office of Philip II, leader, speech therapist, soldier, musicologist, businessman, polyglot, theologian, topographer and translator, etc.

42. In your opinion, Cervantes, his works, and his documentation are misinterpreted. Why?

Yes, many absurd studies discredit his heroism in Italy and Algiers, his admirable courage as a spy in Africa, his impeccable faith, his impeccable honesty as a tax collector, and his integrity as the best writer in the world, demoralizing his virtues and dehumanizing his character, distancing Cervantes from the truth, distorting his texts and suppressing his legal documentation.

Misinterpretation is the absolute ignorance of the truth and the knowledge of the history of Spain, Europe, and Latin America. As a result, the true love of honest and rigorous scientific research is undermined. I ask to see the results of the PISA Test.

43. Have the myths about Cervantes, his family, and his friends been demystified?

None at all. A new fashionable expression, “demystify myths,” is being applied, but under the pretext of demystification, new and worse myths are being generated. These are published through fake news and self-serving interests, dehumanizing Cervantes and his circle.

44. Is it possible to recover the historical truth and create a biography of the truth about Cervantes?

Yes, despite the attacks on truth and reason, the character of Cervantes and his works are still subject to distortion. However, there is a persistent push, both in Spain and globally, to return to the roots of success, ethics, and truth in research.

I maintain that, despite the challenges, the truth about Cervantes will ultimately prevail. There is a commitment to the dehumanization of Cervantes and other historical figures, and I believe that the truth will triumph in time.

45. Why did Cervantes want to emigrate to Latin America?

In truth, no document clarifies his reason. Many fabulous theories are fabricated without any documentary connection as to why he wanted to put down roots in Latin America.

It is not known how he found out about the trades, who advised him to apply for them, and why the 9 councilors of the Council of the Indies did not permit him to embark for the New World.

We do not have any legal document that explains what Cervantes’ true vision of New Spain was and why he aspired to come to the Indies, “refuge and protection of the desperate of Spain”, as a salaried employee of the Crown. There are many undocumented conjectures.

46. Why was Cervantes’ request to emigrate rejected? Is the reason known?

The reason for the rejection is not documented. However, I highlight a humiliating response from Hernando de Vega, the president of the Council of the Indies, who dismissed Cervantes’ request arrogantly. Despite the insults to his nobility, Cervantes maintained his dignity, and his resilience was rewarded with the creation of Don Quijote.

47. Did Cervantes have relatives and friends in Latin America?

Yes, Cervantes had relatives in Guatemala and Mexico and friends in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, Potosí, Bolivia, Peru, and the Philippines. Documents by scholars such as Alfonso Dávila Oliveda, Emilio Maganto Pavón, and Graciela Aurora Mota Botello reveal these connections. These individuals sent him news from New Spain, though it is unclear why Cervantes referenced Latin America in his works after his request to emigrate was denied.

48. How did the expansion of the Spanish Empire influence Cervantes’ work?

Cervantes’ works include very detailed references to Latin America and the voyages in the Indies, but it remains unclear how he gained such specific knowledge about the New World. I question what sources Cervantes had access to, who he corresponded with, and who he may have made business connections within the Americas. Researchers such as Dávila Oliveda believe that Cervantes may have traveled to Mexico.

49. Did the colonization of America influence the perception of the New World in Cervantes’ literature?

Yes. However, before exploring this question, I need to stress the need for thorough and rigorous research on the literary preferences of Hispanic American readers, the quality of literary works in the region, and the influence of colonization on Latin American literature. It is necessary to explore questions regarding the genres preferred by readers, the writers they admired, and the role of classical authors in shaping Latin American literature.

50. How was Cervantes received and reinterpreted in Latin America over the centuries?

It is essential to find more information about the books sent to the New World and other parts of the world to determine more precisely which works, in what quantity, when, for what price, and where they were sent. It is also unknown who sold his works without his permission in Spain and Portugal.

These testimonies could clarify Cervantes’ popularity inside and outside the country, how the publishing houses became rich, how much money the Royal House of Trade of the Indies collected, and what they paid Cervantes. The new unpublished documentation in Indoamerica is essential.

What is the final message for the audience interested in learning more about your work and the life of Cervantes?

I would like to share two mottos from my beloved grandparents and parents: Quid Humilitate invidia? (“What can envy do against humility?”) and Suda en sangre más en tu entrenamiento y sangra menos en la batalla (“Sweat more in your training and bleed less in battle”).

Before finishing, I thank all the documentarians, biographers, and excellent readers for their great help. I also thank the Royal Academy of Córdoba, the Royal Academy of Toledo, the Cervantine Society of Esquivias, the Cervantist Association of Seville, the Royal Tercios of Spain, and the Association “Friends of the Spanish Way of the Tercios,” as well as journalists Eduardo Aguirre Romero, Luis Gordillo, and Javier Velasco Oliaga. One day, I hope to meet them in person.

Many thanks to you, Professor Cabero, for interviewing me. Thank you very much.

Reflections from Prof. Marco A. Cabero, the interviewer

On behalf of the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC), the Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST), and all our readers, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for sharing your time, scholarship, and passion for the figure of Miguel de Cervantes. Your dedication to unraveling the mysteries surrounding the life and work of the author of Don Quijote is not only admirable but also profoundly inspiring.

Your biography, Vida de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, is a monumental achievement that reflects decades of meticulous research and unwavering commitment to historical truth. Through your work, you have illuminated previously unknown aspects of Cervantes’ life, from his military exploits to the complexities of his family environment, offering a richer and more nuanced view of the man behind the legend.

Your responses in this interview have been a gift to our readers. With clarity, depth, and characteristic eloquence, you have challenged myths, addressed controversies, and shared reflections that invite us to rethink Cervantes’ legacy in the contemporary world. Your enthusiasm for research and your ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible manner is a testament to your mastery as both an academic and a communicator.

Professor Sliwa, your work not only enriches the field of Cervantine studies but also reminds us of the power of literature to connect eras, cultures, and generations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity in sharing your knowledge with us and for your tireless work in pursuit of historical truth and academic excellence.

We look forward to continuing to learn from your future research and contributions. In the meantime, we thank you for enriching our pages with your voice and vision.

With gratitude and admiration,

Prof. Dr. Marco A. Cabero
Editor in Chief (Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture)