{"product_id":"paperblanks-2026-2027-picaresque-maxi-hardback-18-month-diary-week-to-view-vertical-de1883-5","title":"Paperblanks 2026–2027 Picaresque Maxi Hardback 18-Month Diary – Week-to-View Vertical","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlan eighteen months ahead in style with this 2026–2027 Picaresque maxi hardback diary from Paperblanks, running from July 2026 to December 2027 in a week-to-view vertical layout, with each day set out in its own column across two facing pages.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe archetype of the appealing anti-hero is encapsulated in Gil Blas, the star of Alain-René Lesage’s 18th-century picaresque novel. Lesage’s work was influenced by the story \u003cem\u003eLazarillo de Tormes,\u003c\/em\u003e a Spanish novella published anonymously in 1554. The cover of an 1846 double publication of those works is reproduced here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Story Behind the Design\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDon Quixote\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSamuel Pickwick\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSebastian Dangerfield\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHuckleberry Finn\u003c\/em\u003e... the archetype of the rascally yet endearing rogue is one with which we are all familiar, though we may not know its origins. And perhaps no character encapsulates what it means to be an appealing anti-hero more than \u003cem\u003eGil Blas\u003c\/em\u003e, the star of Alain-René Lesage’s picaresque novel by the same name.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePicaresque novels blend elements of comedy and satire in their depictions of a lovable charlatan. Published in the early 1700s, \u003cem\u003eGil Blas\u003c\/em\u003e has been described by Edgar Allan Poe as being among “the finest narratives in the world” and was a key item on Thomas Jefferson’s reading list. And though it has come to define the genre, Lesage’s work itself was influenced by the story \u003cem\u003eLazarillo de Tormes\u003c\/em\u003e, a novella published anonymously in 1554. This Spanish work is what gives us the term “picaresque,” stemming from \u003cem\u003epicaresca\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning “rascal,” and it established the key features of a “picaro” character – a lower-class person surviving by their own wits in what is seen as a corrupt or unjust society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese two foundational works of the picaresque genre were published together in 1846, and our cover design recreates that publication’s binding. May the spirits of the charming rapscallions \u003cem\u003eGil Blas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLázaro\u003c\/em\u003e inspire you to go rogue and ramble on in your own quixotic adventures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal artwork:\u003c\/strong\u003e Book binding containing Gil Blas and Lazarillo de Tormes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1846 binding, 16th- and 18th-century stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maxi – 135 × 210 × 18 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate range:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 2026 – December 2027\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLayout:\u003c\/strong\u003e Week-to-View Vertical\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 224 (112 sheets)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaper:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80 gsm acid-free smooth paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Elastic band\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smyth sewn – lies flat and stays durable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCorners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rounded\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePouch:\u003c\/strong\u003e Back cover pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e Picaresque\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100% recycled binder boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative printed cover paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted on acid-free paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThreaded stitching and glue, as needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 satin ribbon markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMemento pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eName plate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonthly planner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConversion tables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear planner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational dialling codes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMini calendars\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational holidays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNational holidays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld time zones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNote-taking pages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 590 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduct code:\u003c\/strong\u003e DE1883-5 | \u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9780349718835\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Paperblanks\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts. Every book is made to last, with binder boards crafted from 100% recycled materials, and the back endpaper tells the fascinating story behind the cover design and credits its creators.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paperblanks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54386097619272,"sku":"DE1883-5","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0920\/5114\/5032\/files\/9780349718835_Front_HighRes.png?v=1792778450","url":"https:\/\/shop.penandpaper.co.uk\/products\/paperblanks-2026-2027-picaresque-maxi-hardback-18-month-diary-week-to-view-vertical-de1883-5","provider":"The Pen and Paper Stationery Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}