First published 1554
Pablos wants nothing more than to pass himself off as a gentleman, but he lacks both the birth and the morals to achieve his dream honestly. Instead, he navigates Spain's seedy underbelly, surrounded by thieves, dishonest clerics, prostitutes, and con artists who share his willingness to bend any rule for personal gain. Like Lazarillo de Tormes before him, Pablos uses whatever tricks he can devise to survive and climb the social ladder. He craves the outward symbols of respectability while scorning the values that traditionally accompany them. Religion, justice, honor, and true nobility mean little to him compared to the appearance of success. His adventures take him through a world where beggars scheme, priests lie, and swindlers flourish. Pablos discovers that in this corrupt landscape, cunning matters more than conscience, and survival depends on outwitting those around him before they outwit him.
Genres: fiction, classic-literature, historical-fiction, adventure
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: anti-hero, social-commentary, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Spain
Period: 17th Century
240 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics