Ortega's "essays in intellectual love" present a personal view of the experience of reading Cervantes' great work, Don Quixote. Presenting his case for integrating literature into experience he meditates on the nature and aim of philosophy while considering how literature contributes to that process. His reading of Quixote is one that considers the idea of heroism and the universal meaning of life. ( )

A disappointing read after Man in Crisis. One of Gasset's early works the book is a series of short essays about Spain, Quixote, Cervantes, and the novel. The book is saved by some pointed insights on what is heroism and adventure. ( )