Picaresque Novels
Picaresque novels tell the adventurous story of a rogue, or a crafty rascal -- picaro is Spanish for this kind of person, which gives these novels their name. These stories gained prominence in Spain and offered a counter to the idealistic chivalrous narratives about knights. Instead of portraying a world of wealth and heroic triumph, they portrayed one of poverty and struggle to survive. The following lists both modern and classic picaresque novels.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
An old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate, this novel tells the story of Theo Decker (the picaro), who eventually finds himself in the underworld of art.
The 100-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Confined to a nursing home and about to turn 100, Allan Karlsson (the picaro), climbs out of the window in his slippers and embarks on an unforgettable adventure involving thugs, a murderous elephant and a very friendly hot dog stand operator.
Baudolino by Umberto Eco
Born a simple peasant in northern Italy in the twelfth century, Baudolino (the picaro), narrates the story of his life, from his adoption by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his education in Paris to his arrival in Constantinople during the turmoil of the Fourth Crusade.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson
In Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (the picaro and his sidekick) are quickly diverted to search for the American dream. Their quest is fueled by nearly every drug imaginable and quickly becomes a surreal experience that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch.
Jake Donaghue (the picaro), a clever young man who makes his living from translation work and hitting up his friends for money, has a chance encounter with an old flame that involves him in a series of bizarre adventures.
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Moll (the picara) is born in Newgate prison to a petty thief and is soon left at the mercy of whoever will take her in. From this unfavorable beginning the resourceful Moll loves and bargains her way from rags to riches, from prostitution in the streets of London to prosperity on a Virginia plantation.
Candide by Voltaire
This is the narrative of the hilarious adventures of Candide (the picaro), who doggedly believes that "all is for the best" even when faced with injustice, suffering, and despair. Controversial and entertaining, Candide is a book that is vitally relevant today in our world pervaded by--as Candide would say--"the mania for insisting that all is well when all is by no means well."
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
The first European novel, and one of the greatest, is a marvellously comic study of delusion and its consequences: Don Quixote (the picaro), the old gentleman of La Mancha, takes to the road in search of adventure and remains undaunted in the face of repeated disaster.
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