Life of Lazarillo de Tormes
The birth of the antihero: Unveiling the pioneering Spanish novella
The antihero isn’t a modern creation; it finds its roots in late medieval literature as the roguish hero-a prevalent archetype used as a vehicle for societal critique. The pioneering work of the picaresque novel, Life of Lazarillo de Tormes, served as a humorous and critical reflection on the hypocrisy and corruption of the Late Middle Ages. This Spanish novella stands as both a crucial piece in Spanish literature and a valuable artifact for cultural historians.
Published anonymously due to its anti-establishment content, the novella tells the tale of Lazarillo de Tormes, a rogue hero (pícaro) navigating the corrupt world with wit and cunning. Written before 1530, it was initially printed in Burgos around 1552/53. Surviving printings from 1554 appeared in Alcalá de Henares, Burgos, and Amberes.
Lazarillo de Tormes narrates his story from a lower-class perspective, detailing his experiences under various masters, each with worsening conditions. The narrative exposes 16th century society through Lazarillo’s encounters with a blind beggar, a clergyman, an impoverished knight, a friar, and others. Unlike popular romanticized tales of the time, this novel contrasts sharply by revealing the harsh reality faced by society’s marginalized.
The novel, critical of both the Catholic Church and Spanish aristocracy, faced the Inquisition’s wrath, landing on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1559. A purified version, Lazarillo castigado (1573), emerged, while the original wasn’t permitted until the 19th century. Despite censorship, it influenced European literature profoundly, with characters like Don Quixote and Simplicissimus tracing their lineage to Lazarillo. Even modern film and TV antiheroes owe inspiration to this pioneering Spanish picaro.
First published in Antwerp by Martín Nucio in 1554, this novel marked the inception of the picaresque genre. Narrated by Lazarillo, a boy from humble origins turned adept thief, it satirizes the Catholic Church and Spanish aristocracy, landing it on the Spanish Inquisition’s List of Prohibited Books. This edition includes the original text and a 1555 sequel continuing Lazarillo’s narrative.
The facsimile edition of the Life of Lazarillo de Tormes is complemented by a bookcase for its conservation and a complementary study book made by subject matter experts.
This facsimile is a unique edition of 995 books numbered and authenticated by notarial deed.
Details
Tech Sheet
DATE:
XVI century.
ORIGINAL KEPT:
National Library of Spain. U/746
LANGUAGE:
Old Spanish.
FORMAT:
135 x 70 mm.
PAGES:
138 pages impressed with tipography.
ILUMINATION:
None.
BINDING:
Bound in tool stamped leather.
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