Picture this: Madrid, at night. A young student named Don Cleofas is running from a bad situation when he stumbles into an astrologer's tower. There, he finds a strange glass bottle... and sets free the limping demon trapped inside. This demon, Asmodeus, is a chatty, mischievous creature who decides to repay his rescuer not with gold, but with the ultimate gossip session.

The Story

Asmodeus uses his magic to lift the roofs off the entire city. From their perch, he and Don Cleofas look down into the private homes of Madrid's citizens. They see everything: a miser counting his coins, a jealous husband plotting, a hypocrite pretending to be pious, lovers in secret meetings, and nobles drowning in debt. Each window is a short story, a snapshot of human folly, vice, and the occasional bit of virtue. As they travel from house to house, Asmodeus explains the hidden connections and true motives behind every scene, turning a simple city into a web of scandal and intrigue.

Why You Should Read It

Don't let the 1707 publication date fool you—this book is incredibly fun. Le Sage’s demon isn't a figure of horror; he's a witty, cynical tour guide to human nature. The joy isn't in a complex plot, but in the sheer variety of human foolishness on display. It’s like people-watching at the mall, but with a supernatural commentator pointing out all the lies and hidden desires. You'll laugh at the absurd situations, but you might also catch yourself thinking, 'Yeah, people really haven't changed much.'

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love clever satire and don't mind a story that meanders from one entertaining scene to the next. If you enjoy shows or books that expose the silly side of society (think a historical What We Do in the Shadows meets a Spanish Gossip Girl), you'll get a kick out of this. It's a breezy, insightful, and often hilarious reminder that everyone has a secret life.