What evidence is there that Miguel de Cervantes wrote 'Don Quixote'? Little indeed. Not only do we know little of his life;the standard of his Work,apart from 'Quixote', is low. Most of his books remain unpublished abroad. What do we know about Thomas Shelton,whose translation into English has Won the praise of literary historians ever since it appeared in 1612? What do we know of Cid Hamet Benengeli,the Arab historian who,we Are told,is the real author?

Until now no proper…