"Picaresque Tales" - parodic narratives relating the adventures of a rogue - have been central to the development of Spanish literature since the time of Cervantes. This text incorporates poststructuralist theory into a comprehensive treatment of such tales written during the Spainish Golden Age. The essays in this volume examine such works as "Lazarillo de Tormes", "Guzman de Alfarache" and "El buscon". The contributors address the connection between literary representation and everyday life, examining the context in which the Picaresque mode developed.