Gargantua and Pantagruel. Francois Rabelais

An elaborate parody written by the French Renaissance humanist, writer, Greek scholar, and physician Francois Rabelais, “Gargantua and Pantagruel” is a comic blend of energetic realism and carnival fantasy. First published in1532, “Gargantua and Pantagruel” relates the fantastical tales of its titular characters, Gargantua, a giant who becomes a sophisticated and cultured Christian knight, and his son Pantagruel, also a giant, who grows into a learned philosopher similar to Socrates. Many different types of people are satirized during their chivalric exploits, from lawyers to theologians, generals to monarchs, with humor that is often grotesque and was considered obscene when it first appeared. Intertwined with this crude comedy, however, is the wisdom of Renaissance learning, which exposes countless examples of human foolishness. Comprised of five books, the first tells the story of Gargantua and the second through fifth relate that of his son, Pantagruel. Rabelais’s knowledge of Greek inspired him to invent hundreds of new words, many of which became part of the French language in this entertaining, irreverent, clever, and timeless masterpiece.