| Author |
Rabelais, François, 1490?-1553? |
| Illustrator |
Doré, Gustave, 1832-1883 |
| Translator |
Motteux, Peter Anthony, 1660-1718 |
| Translator |
Urquhart, Thomas, Sir, 1611-1660 |
| Title |
Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 1
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 70.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Sue Asscher and David Widger
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| Summary |
"Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 1" by François Rabelais is a comedic novel written during the early 16th century. This work is renowned for its rich blend of satire, philosophy, and ribald humor, revolving around the lives and adventures of the giant Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. It explores themes of humanism, education, and the absurdities of society through the lens of fantastical narratives. The opening of the novel introduces the reader to the whimsical and satirical world created by Rabelais. It begins with an elaborate and humorous prologue that addresses the reader directly, urging them to look beyond the surface frivolities of the text. The narrative quickly delves into the genealogy of Gargantua, illustrating Rabelais' penchant for absurdity as he recounts the tale of Gargantua's conception and birth with a mixture of grandiosity and irreverence. The chapter paints Gargantua's father, Grangousier, as a jolly figure fond of food and drink, setting the tone for a narrative rich with comic exaggeration and clever wordplay. This beginning establishes Rabelais' distinctive style, inviting readers to engage with the text on both comedic and intellectual levels. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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| Subject |
Giants -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Fantasy fiction, French -- Translations into English
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| Subject |
Gargantua (Legendary character) -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
8166 |
| Release Date |
May 1, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 26, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
612 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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