Marcos de Obregón

Marcos de Obregón was written by the Spanish author Vicente Espinel and first published in 1618 under the full title Relaciones de la vida del escudero Marcos de Obregón. It is considered one of the notable picaresque novels of early modern Spanish literature.

Like Lazarillo de Tormes and Guzmán de Alfarache, Marcos de Obregón belongs to the Spanish picaresque tradition, presenting the adventures and hardships of a lower-ranking protagonist navigating society. It is sometimes cited as a possible influence on Cervantes's Don Quijote, though the relationship is debated by scholars.

The novel is presented as the recollections of an aging squire named Marcos de Obregón, recounting his travels, misadventures, and social observations across Spain and beyond. It blends episodic adventure, autobiography-style narration, and moral digression in a way typical of the picaresque genre.

Scholars have noted that many episodes in the novel draw on Espinel's own experiences as a soldier, musician, and traveler. However, like other picaresque works, it fictionalizes and embellishes these autobiographical elements rather than serving as a straightforward memoir.