Alain Lesage was a French novelist who wrote during the 18th century. He is best known for his picaresque novel, Gil Blas de Santillane, which was published in 1715 and is considered to be one of the earliest examples of the genre. Lesage also wrote several other works, including Le Diable Boiteux (1707) and Turcaret (1709). His works are noted for their wit and satire, and he is credited with helping to popularize the picaresque novel.