Overview

Written by an international group of scholars, this edited collection provides an overview of the Spanish picaresque from its origins in tales of lowborn adventurers to its importance for the modern novel, along with consideration of the debates that the picaresque has inspired. The term picaresque describes a specific set of early modern Spanish narratives relating the life story of a lowborn adventurer in a realist, ironic, and often humorous manner. The protagonist, the picaro or pícara (rascal), seeks upward mobility in a resolutely hierarchical society determined to prevent his - or her - ascent, and both are rich targets of satire. Spanish pícaros inspired Anglo-French rogues including Gil Blas and Tom Jones and paved the way for the modern novel. Written by an international group of scholars, this edited collection provides an overview of the Spanish picaresque novel from its origins to the present day, along with a treatment of the debates that the picaresque has inspired. After introductory chapters on the picaresque genre and the origin of the phenomenon, the book analyses canonical texts and their role in the picaresque spectrum. Further chapters then turn to critical approaches to the genre and manifestations of the picaresque in Hispanic America, France, England, and modern Spain. Overall, the book affords readers a broad sense of the range of this rich tradition and an in-depth view of the field and its major texts.

Full Product Details

Author:   Edward H Friedman (Person) ,  Dr Marta Albalá Pelegrín ,  JA Garrido Ardila ,  Professor Anne J Cruz (Person)
Publisher:   Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Imprint:   Tamesis Books
ISBN:  

9781855664487

ISBN 10:   1855664488
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   07 July 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

List of Contributors Forward 1. The Picaresque as a Genre Edward H. Friedman 2. On the Picaresque and Its Origins Anne J. Cruz 3. Francisco Delicado, La lozana andaluza Marta Albalá Pelegrín 4. Lazarillo de Tormes J. A. Garrido Ardila 5. Mateo Alemán, Guzmán de Alfarache Howard Mancing 6. Francisco de Quevedo, La vida del buscón Edward H. Friedman 7. La pícara Justina Brian M. Phillips 8. Alonso Jerónimo de Salas Barbadillo, La hija de Celestina Enrique García Santo-Tomás 9. Miguel de Cervantes and the Picaresque Vicente Pérez de León 10. Vicente Espinel, Marcós de Obregón John C. Parrack 11. Carlos García, La desordenada codicia de los bienes agenos Antón García-Fernández 12. Estebanillo González Faith S. Harden 13. Critical Approaches to the Picaresque Hilaire Kallendorf 14. The Picaresque in Spanish America José Luis Gastañaga Ponce de León 15. Continuations: France and England Richard Squibbs 16. Continuity of the Picaresque: Spain Andrés Zamora Bibliography

Reviews

A good volume that registers the progressively more flexible state of the Picaresque Studies at the Anglo-American Academy. An opportunity for new generations of scholars consider the wealth hidden beneath the monumental weight of the labels and to warn of the excellent work on which picaresque studies are based of today. * BULLETIN OF SPANISH STUDIES * This book, for its rigour, its diversity and its ability to bring together in a balanced way. A multitude of works and critical tendencies, it is a contribution of enormous value for a wide range of readers and comes to enrich the knowledge of Spanish literature of early modernity in general and of the picaresque novel in particular. -- Ana M. Rodriguez-Rodriguez * RESENAS IBEROAMERICANAS *

Author Information

EDWARD H. FRIEDMAN is emeritus Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University. EDWARD H. FRIEDMAN is emeritus Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University.

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