Gargantua and Pantagruel"The dazzling and exuberant comic 'Chronicles' of Rabelais (c. 1483-1552) are a feast of wisdom and laughter. Realism intertwines with carnivalesque fantasy, Renaissance learning with obscene humour to make readers look at the world afresh. Pantagruel, a tale of comic chivalry, satirizes lawyers, theologians and academic buffoons, while Gargantua mocks rash generals, idiotic monarchs and uncouth professors. It champions freedom and laughs at a dirty young giant before he turns into a splendid prince. Sequels lead into more complex and daring laughter and high mythology, often at the expense of Panurge - the mad, word-spinning companion of Pantagruel (who becomes a giant in wisdom, a Renaissance Socrates)." "M. A. Screech's translation captures Rabelais' ingenious wordplay and mastery of language. The introduction explores his individuality while comparing him to Shakespeare, and presents each book to open up the new horizons of Renaissance Europe. This edition also includes a chronology and notes."--BOOK JACKET. |
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Common terms and phrases
ancient answered Pantagruel answered Panurge armor asked bagpipe balls begat belly better Brother John burned called Carpalim Chapter Chinon codpiece cuckolded devil divine donkey drink Dumbman Epistemon everything exactly fart father fire fool FRANÇOIS RABELAIS Gargantua gentlemen gold pieces Grandgousier Greek Gymnast hand handsome happy head hear heaven Hippocrates holy honor horse hundred island Jupiter king La Roche-Clermault lady land learned leave legs Les Sables-d'Olonne live look Lord M. A. Screech Maître Malicorne marriage married matter mean monk never noble nose once Pantagruelion philosopher Picrochole piss Plato Powerbrain Priapus pulled sacred edicts sail Saint Sausages Scythian shit Shyster silver soul sword tell there's things thousand told turned understand wearing Werewolf wife wine woman women words WORDSPOOLER