true.
If false, escape characters and package prefixes are not output when an expression is printed.
If true, an attempt is made to print an expression in such a way that it can be read again to produce an equal expression. (This is only a guideline; not a requirement. See *print-readably*.)
For more specific details of how the value of *print-escape* affects the printing of certain types, see section {\secref\DefaultPrintObjMeths}.
(let ((*print-escape* t)) (write #\\a))
▷#\\a
→#\\a
(let ((*print-escape* nil)) (write #\\a))
▷a
→#\\a