"The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, Volume 1" is a novel by Miguel de Cervantes that follows the adventures of an aging nobleman named Alonso Quixano, who becomes so enamored with chivalric romances that he decides to become a knight-errant, taking the name Don Quixote. He sets out on a quest to revive chivalry and protect the helpless, accompanied by his loyal but practical squire, Sancho Panza. Their journey is marked by a series of comical and poignant encounters that highlight themes of reality versus illusion.