Plot Summary

Gil Blas

Alain Rene Lesage
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Gil Blas

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1715

Book Brief

Alain Rene Lesage

Gil Blas

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1715
Book Details
Pages

608

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Spain • 17th century

Publication Year

1715

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Gil Blas by Alain René Lesage follows the title character's adventures as he navigates various social classes, encountering a wide array of professions and personalities, often finding himself in precarious situations, both morally and legally, ultimately rising to positions of influence only to retreat to a simpler life. The novel contains themes of incarceration and violence.

Humorous

Adventurous

Playful

Romantic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.5

354 ratings

64%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Alain René Lesage’s Gil Blas garners praise for its witty satire and vivid depiction of 18th-century society. Critics laud Lesage's narrative finesse and character development, particularly of the roguish protagonist. However, some find the lengthy episodic structure challenging and the moral undertones somewhat antiquated, which may not resonate with modern readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Gil Blas?

Readers who relish picaresque adventures filled with wit and social satire will enjoy Alain René Lesage's Gil Blas. This novel appeals to fans of Cervantes' Don Quixote and Defoe's Moll Flanders, as it offers a similar mix of roguish charm, episodic structure, and keen observations of human nature.

3.5

354 ratings

64%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

608

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Spain • 17th century

Publication Year

1715

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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