Lazarillo of Tormes, a classic Spanish picaresque novel often attributed to Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, follows the life of a cunning and resourceful boy, Lázaro, as he navigates various hardships and masters survival through wit and trickery. This satirical work, first published in 1554, offers a sharp critique of societal corruption, hypocrisy, and the church, making it a foundational text of the picaresque genre.