At the end of last month English speakers around the world celebrated the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare. Tens of thousands lined the streets in Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace, dressed in traditional garb, and reciting his famous lines, to remember The Bard's classic works and legacy.

But to much less fanfare, Spain marked the 400th anniversary of the death of its best known writer — Miguel De Cervantes. Cervantes, of course, was the author of "Don Quixote." His comedy stood the test of time — still one of the most read books 400 years later, translated into some 140 languages.

Ilan Stavans, professor of Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College and author of "Quixote: The Novel And The World." He tweets @IlanStavans.

The Los Angeles Times: The Secret Connection Between Cervantes And Shakespeare