Man of La Mancha
I have read this, in Spanish (the only thing I ever really wanted to do with my skills en Español) AND English, about 18 times. It’s exactly like that.
It’s of a genre called picaresque which means “rogue” or “rascal” and is natively Spanish, used by authors to satirically critique the ossified rituals of nobility and highlight the social conditions and grinding poverty of Spain. La Vida de Lazarillo de Tormes is another oldest work and it’s even more horrific. Thank goodness for writers like Borges who are only magical realists.
Off to tilt at some windmills.