"The Unfortunate Traveller" is a picaresque novel written by Thomas Nashe, an influential Elizabethan writer. Set in the early 16th century, the novel follows the adventures of its protagonist, Jack Wilton, as he travels across Europe and encounters a series of misadventures and colorful characters.
At the heart of the novel is Jack's quest for fortune and adventure, which leads him to become a soldier, a courtier, and ultimately, a spy. Along the way, Jack finds himself embroiled in a series of intrigues, romances, and betrayals, as he navigates the treacherous political landscape of Renaissance Europe.
Through Jack's eyes, Nashe offers a satirical commentary on the social, political, and religious mores of his time. The novel is filled with witty dialogue, irreverent humor, and sharp observations about human nature, as Nashe skewers the hypocrisy and folly of the society in which he lived.