Tariq Ali on Miguel de Cervantes : Don Quixote, Islam and Europe

Tariq Ali describes here the biting social commentary and criticism that makes up Cervantes' famous novel, Don Quixote. Cervantes, despite the power of the Spanish Inquisition, was able to criticise the Catholic Church, Christian Spain, and the treatment of Jews and Muslims at the hands of the Spanish authorities, all without getting the attention of the authorities of the time. Tariq describes the sense of loss that came with the destruction of Europe's first multicultural society

Democracy and Class Struggle says Miguel de Cervantes may not get celebrations as big as Shakespeare in his centennial because he was a thorn in the side of the establishment - Shakespeare although a genius was a propagandist for the Tudor monarchy and much less a threat to power than Miguel de Cervantes.

Miguel de Cervantes challenges power past and present and has a message for today for Europe.