THE 5 MOST PROMINENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PICARESQUE NOVEL - LITERATURE - 2024

Among the main representatives of the picaresque novel are the French Alain-Rene Lesage, and the Spanish Alonso de Castillo Solórzano, Francisco de Quevedo, Vicente de Espinel and Mateo Alemán.

The picaresque novel is a subgenre of prose literature that emerged in Spain in the 16th century. One of its main characteristics is to represent the main character as an "antihero" who has a mischievous attitude.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the picaresque novel was a genre of great importance in Spanish literature, coinciding with the so-called Golden Age, in which both literature and art were strongly manifested in Spain.

The most representative work of the picaresque novel is La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes and its fortunes and adversities, which curiously is by an anonymous author.

Cover of El Lazarillo de Tormes. Source: Mateo & Francisco del Canto, via Wikimedia Commons

The rise of the picaresque novel during the Golden Age of Spanish literature is the reason why most of its exponents are Spanish. However, the influence and avant-garde of this genre quickly spread throughout Europe.

The main authors of the picaresque novel

1- Alain-Rene Lesage

Born in France in 1668, Lesage studied law at the Paris Bar Association. However, towards the year 1700 his interests leaned more towards theater and literature.

It was then that he discovered the picaresque novel, which he liked so much that he began to translate famous works from Spanish to French. Over time, he began to write his own material.

In 1707 he published what would be his first success in the picaresque genre, "Le Diable boîteux". Some years later, in 1715, he published "Les avantures de Gil Blas de Santillane", which is considered a masterpiece of the picaresque novel.

2- Alonso de Castillo Solórzano

A native of Valladolid (October 1584), he had a first class education until he was 13 years old, when his father passed away.

Over time he was gaining the favor of many influential nobles throughout Spain, which allowed him to publish a very extensive number of works.

He was an extremely talented writer who knew how to adapt to the many environments in which he worked. He is credited with the creation of the literary subgenre "Figurine Comedy."

Among his most remembered works are "Aventuras del Bachelor Trapaza", "The harpies in Madrid and the scam car" and "Lisardo in love".

3- Francisco de Quevedo

Considered the most important author of the Golden Age of Spanish literature, Quevedo was born in September 1580 into a wealthy family.

He was orphaned at a very young age. His feet were misshapen and short-sighted, so he did not get along with other children.

This made him fully focus on reading. He studied at the University of Alcalá and was quite prominent in the academic field.

His most representative work of the picaresque novel was "La vida del Buscón", published in 1626.

4- Vicente de Espinel

Priest, musician and writer born in Malaga in 1550. He was outstanding in writing and music.

Creator of the spinel (a type of stanza used in poetry) and famous for adding a fifth string to the Spanish guitar.

In 1618 he published his most relevant contribution to the picaresque novel: "The life of the squire Marcos de Obregón."

5- Mateo Alemán

Mateo Alemán can be considered one of the greatest exponents of the picaresque novel, along with Francisco de Quevedo

Born in Seville in 1547, Alemán is the author of "Guzmán de Alfarache", a novel that helped consolidate and establish the foundations of the picaresque genre.

This work was well known throughout the European continent, so it was translated into English, Latin, French, Italian and German.

References

1. What are the characteristics of the picaresque novel? (2014). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Saberia: saberia.com
2. Ana Lucia Santana (nd). Authors of the Picaresque Novel. Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Infoescola: infoescola.com
3. Alonso Zamora Vicente (1962). What is the picaresque novel. Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library: cervantesvirtual.com
4. Quevedo. Life and work (sf). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library: cervantesvirtual.com
5. Alonso de Castillo Solorzano (2015). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica: britannica.com
6. Alain-René Lesage (2009). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica: britannica.com
7. Vicente Espinel (nd). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Catholic.
8. Mateo Alemán (1999). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Universidad Arturo Michelena: uam.edu.ve