Lázaro’s journey is one of . Born into poverty near the river Tormes, he is essentially sold by his mother to a blind beggar—the first of his seven masters. The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes Themes - LitCharts

Mateo, however, was stuck. His local library was small, and the only copy of Lazarillo de Tormes on the shelf was a dusty, ancient edition with tiny print and no footnotes. He needed something more accessible, something tailored for students. He specifically needed the edition. His professor had sworn by it, praising its critical apparatus and clear introductions.