The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes His Fortunes & Adversities; with a Notice of the Mendoza Family, a Short Life of the Author, Don Diego Hurtado De Mendoza, a Notice of the Work, and Some Remarks on the Character of Lazarillo de Tormes

"The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes" by Anonymous is a story set in 16th-century Spain that follows Lazarillo, a young boy born into poverty, as he becomes a servant to different masters. His journey exposes him to the challenging truths of society, including the harsh realities of social class, the struggle for survival, and the disappointment one feels when life doesn't meet expectations due to hypocrisy. He begins life near the Tormes River, and after his father's death, his mother places him in the service of a blind man. These beginning chapters introduce the early adversities he faces and how he uses his wits to overcome the challenges, revealing how he copes with a hard life.