François Rabelais' 16th-century pentalogy, "The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel," chronicles the adventures of giants Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. This satirical and extravagant work, often compared to the writings of Shakespeare and Joyce, combines erudition, vulgarity, and wordplay. Rabelais, a polyglot, introduced numerous new and challenging words to the French language. However, due to its explicit nature, the Sorbonne censors labeled the work obscene. In a time of growing religious oppression and approaching French Wars of Religion, contemporaries hesitated to discuss it openly.
Books IV & V. Translated from French into English by Sir Thomas Urquhart ad Peter Le Motteux.
The Lives, Heroic Deeds and Sayings of Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel
Title: The Lives, Heroic Deeds and Sayings of Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel
Author: Dr Francis Rabelais
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1921
Format: Hardback Chatto and WindusCondition: Blue covers with embossed title to front. The pine has faded and there is a crease running down the front cover. The pages are clean with no ink or pencil marks. Small drawing of a tree and birds to front blank page.
Book measures 16cm x 11cm with 367 pages.