by Alain-René Lesage and FB Editions

Alain-René Lesage (1668–1747) was a prolific French novelist, playwright, and satirist best known for his picaresque novel *Gil Blas* (1715–1735), the comic novel *The Devil upon Two Sticks* (1707), and the comedy *Turcaret* (1709). Orphaned young, he studied law in Paris but turned to literature, starting with translations of Spanish works before achieving success with his original satirical pieces. He supported his family through writing, becoming one of France's first professional authors, and later focused on the Theatre de la Foire after conflicts with major theaters.