French literature

The Complete works

The Complete Works of François Rabelais, translated from the original French by Donald M. Frame, University of California Press, 1999. A complete translation of Rabelais’ works.

The Cambridge Companion to Rabelais

The Companion offers a clear and engaging overview of Rabelais’s major works, together with the historical context and interpretive tools necessary to understand the author and his world. Written specifically for English-speaking readers.

The (presumed) birthplace of François Rabelais is now a very active museum, offering numerous events and cultural activities for all audiences. The website also features a very useful blog, including numerous literary texts about Rabelais.

Rabelais in his time

A high-quality lecture on the work of Rabelais in its historical context.

Leonardo da Vinci, anatomical drawing.

“Gargantua, my father, often told us that the writings of those fasting hermits were as bland, thin, and tasteless as their bodies were when they composed them. It is hard for the mind to stay sound and serene when the body is starving.”
Third Book, XIII