91 pages • 3 hours read
François Rabelais, Transl. Thomas UrquhartGargantua And Pantagruel
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1564A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, recounts the whimsical and satirical adventures of two giants, Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. Pantagruel and his friend Panurge study in Paris, solve legal disputes, and later, fend off invaders. Gargantua experiences a similar arc, defending Utopia with Frere Jean. Subsequent books explore Panurge's matrimonial dilemmas, culminating in a journey to consult an oracle. The narrative is humorous and picaresque, rich with social commentary, bold satire, and elaborate prose. Some content may include scatological and sexual humor, as well as critiques of clergy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
François Rabelais's Gargantua and Pantagruel, translated by Thomas Urquhart, delivers a comic and satirical masterpiece bursting with inventive language and imaginative narrative. Positive aspects include its wit and the translation's vibrant fidelity to the original's humor. However, the dense and archaic text may hinder some modern readers.
Who Should Read Gargantua And Pantagruel?
A reader who enjoys Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, likely appreciates satirical humor, Renaissance literature, and bawdy, fantastical adventures. Fans of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales or Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote would also find this work compelling.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1340L