Along with Guzman del Alfarache, this is the novel that began a rich tradition of rogue literature, everything from Simplicissimus and Felix Krull in Germany, to Moll Flanders and Roderick Random in England, and eventually Huck Finn in the U.S. The plot will seem a bit disjointed to contemporary readers: the picaresque genre is characterized by a quick-moving, episodic style, a series of disconnected adventures, and sudden eruptions of extreme violence. But the story's charm is still undeniable, and there's something inherently pleasant about following the early life of a character who flouts conventions and lives entirely by his wits. "Lazarillo" is a forgotten gem, and one of the most influencial pieces of the Spanish Golden Age.