The
picaresque novel (
Spanish:
"picaresca," from
"pícaro," for "
rogue" or "rascal") is a genre of prose
fiction which depicts the
adventures of a roguish
hero of low
social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. Picaresque novels typically adopt a
realistic style, with elements of
comedy and
satire. This style of
novel originated in 16th-century
Spain and flourished throughout
Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. It continues to influence modern literature.