The novel follows Lázaro González Pérez, a boy from Salamanca (born in the Tormes river). After his father dies, his mother sends him to serve a series of masters. Each chapter ("tratado") introduces a new master, each representing a vice in Spanish society:
The novel ends with Lázaro living in "peace" as the town crier of Toledo, overlooking his wife’s affair with the Archpriest of San Salvador. It is a cynical, satirical, and brilliant critique of the Ancien Régime .
: Lázaro's story is a testament to his resourcefulness and cunning in the face of adversity. His strategies for survival offer insights into the hardships faced by the lower classes and the ways in which individuals might navigate these challenges.
