miguel and miguel

Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Unamuno

It's no doubt been noted somewhere and on various occasions that two of Spain's greatest writers, Miguel de Cervantes and Miguel de Unamuno, had the same birthday.  Presumedly born on September 29, 1547, Cervantes famously gave the world Don Quijote, along with the wonderful word quixotic.  Born September 29, 1864,  Unamuno was a writer, intellectual and educator -- and part of the restlessness of thought that brought about Spain's Generación de '98.  One of Unamuno's better-known books was the fictional Niebla (Mist) written in 1914, but he also took it upon himself to pen Vida de Don Quijote y Sancho, a reworking of Cervantes' epic.  Unamuno was dissatisfied with too many tangents in the original version, and he seemed to prefer an individualistic vs. idealistic ending.

The real Don Quixote, he who remained on earth and lives among us with his spirit — this Don Quixote was not converted, this Don Quixote continues to incite us to make ourselves ridiculous, this Don Quixote must never die.

Miguel de Unamuno  

a new york minute circa 1883

New York is one of the most wonderful products of our wonderful western civilization. It is itself a world in epitome. Thoroughly cosmopolitan in its character, almost every nationality is represented within its boundaries, and almost every tongue spoken. It is the great monetary, scientific, artistic and intellectual centre of the western world. Containing much that is evil, it also abounds with more that is good...The record of its crimes is undoubtedly a long one; but when the number of its inhabitants is considered, it will be found to show an average comparing favorably with other cities. Thousands of happy homes are found throughout its length and breadth. Hundreds of good and charitable enterprises are originated and fostered within its limits, and grow, some of them, to gigantic proportions, reaching out strong arms to the uttermost confines of the country and even of the world, comforting the afflicted, lifting up the degraded, and shedding the light of truth in dark places.   **  Willard W. Glazier -- Peculiarities of American Cities (1883)


Pictured:  New York Public Library (1910s) -- Colin Campbell Cooper