picaresque novel

Also known as picaresque literature, picaresque fiction

type of literature, usually involves a lower-class young protagonist, on his own, often making a journey

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Commons category: Picaresque novel

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The picaresque genre began with the Spanish novel Lazarillo de Tormes (1554) (Pictured: Its title page)

The picaresque novel is a genre of prose fiction that depicts the adventures of a roguish but appealing hero, usually of low social class, who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. Picaresque novels typically adopt the form of "an episodic prose narrative" with a realistic style. There are often elements of comedy and satire.