The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel
R240.00
The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel serves as both a foundational study for Renaissance literature enthusiasts and an enduringly entertaining read, preserving the audacious spirit and humanist insight that define Rabelais’s genius.
Author
Translated by Jacques Le Clercq
Publish Date
1944
Cover Type
Hardcover
Condition
Very Good
The dust jacket is edge worn with small tears. Red cloth with publisher logo in black and gilt and black with gilt text on the spine. The pages is slightly discoloured
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Book Description
The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel, translated by Jacques Le Clercq, is a distinguished English-language edition of François Rabelais’s seminal Renaissance masterpiece, first issued in 1944 by The Modern Library. This comprehensive volume presents all five books of Gargantua and Pantagruel, preserving the exuberant wit, satire, and philosophical depth of Rabelais while rendering his complex, playful French into accessible English prose. Le Clercq’s translation is celebrated for its fidelity to Rabelais’s linguistic inventiveness and the vivid energy of his characters, offering modern readers both clarity and literary vibrancy.
Rabelais’s work, written in the 16th century, chronicles the adventures, education, and encounters of the giants Gargantua and his son Pantagruel, blending ribald humour, humanist philosophy, and biting social commentary. The 1944 Modern Library edition includes extensive notes, introductions, and contextual explanations that situate the narrative within Renaissance France, its humanist intellectual currents, and its critique of contemporary society, politics, and religion. Le Clercq’s careful translation retains Rabelais’s exuberant wordplay, grotesque humour, and philosophical asides, making it a definitive edition for Anglophone readers.
Collectors and literary scholars value The Complete Works of Rabelais both for its editorial quality and for its historical significance as a mid-twentieth-century English translation of one of Western literature’s most influential texts. The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel serves as both a foundational study for Renaissance literature enthusiasts and an enduringly entertaining read, preserving the audacious spirit and humanist insight that define Rabelais’s genius.
Condition: Very Good – The dust jacket is edge worn with small tears. Red cloth with publisher logo in black and gilt and black with gilt text on the spine. The pages are slightly discoloured.
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Another collector (Fynn Lee) had warned us in advance to prepare a lot of time to browse this massive collection, and he was right! The size of the collection is simply immense. But it's still well organized!
We had a blast hunting for cool books here. We actually spent over three hours here, thoroughly enjoying ourselves as we went through these cool books.
We found so many great books at Midlands. We bought far too many to travel home with, but they were kind enough to ship our books back home for us (overseas).
I highly recommend Midlands Books & Collectibles. Their service was fast and professional with brilliant open and honest communication. Robert Cronjé was an absolute pleasure to deal with and I received my order faster than expected at an excellent rate. Parcel was packed securely and arrived in perfect condition. Very happy new customer and looking forward to buying from Midlands Books soon again.
A real hidden gem for collectors of hard to get books. I was able to get a rare book I was looking for, and for a great price. The people who run this are very nice and was able to get my book shipped very quickly, despite having to have it shipped internationally to here in the states.
Stepping inside this bookstore was a delight! It immediately ranks among the best I've ever experienced. The care and dedication of the owner is palpable. It's the kind of place you could happily get lost in for hours. If you're nearby, this is an absolute must-visit. I can't recommend it enough.
An absolute pleasure to deal with Robert, at Midlands Books and Collectables. My books were extremely well packaged and protected, and shipping was super quick. I received my books 2 days after payment cleared. I will definitely be buying from them again, and highly recommend them.
Patrick
I recently bought a book online from Midlands Books and the experience was great! Robert was very helpful and shipped the book to Spain. The book was a rare find and in pristine conditions! Would recommend 100%!
Absolutely INCREDIBLE treasure trove of the most collectible books, coins and artifacts I’ve seen and absolutely worth the trip out to the Old Mushroom Farm to visit this gem - you could get let in the store for a week and still not get to see everything! Incredible service to match the selection! A must see and worthy of the five stars and more!
Excellent service from Midlands Books. They searched for books and ordered books in for me. I’ll definitely be doing business with them again in future.
We discovered Midlands books and collectibles at the old mushroom farm and at horse shoe bend. You can spend hours browsing the incredible selection of books. The vast array of bird books is definitely worth the visit.
I discovered the most enchanting magical bookshop – a true hidden gem! The moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by shelves that seem to stretch into other worlds, filled with every kind of story imaginable. From secret passageways to cozy reading nooks, this shop has it all, creating an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a fairytale. The staff are as knowledgeable as they are welcoming, always ready to recommend your next great adventure. It’s not just a place to buy books; it’s a doorway to other world with the incredible domed roof of the mushroom farm. A must-visit for any book lover!
Utterly enchanting, in a unique and magical setting (an old mushroom farm tunnel in the beautiful, wooded Midlands Meander). This is hands-down one of the best bookstores I've ever perused (I'm serious about books and work for a major publishing house).
The selection is incredible; I visited from Oxford (England) and was amazed at the very old, rare and precious gems on offer - books that would be snaffled up by auctioneers and collectors too quickly to even set eyes upon in the UK are waiting here at unbelievably good prices.
There is something for every interest and price point; this is both a solid second-hand bookshop as well as collectible store. The owner was so friendly and took time to show my family and I some of the oldest, largest, and most unusual items in the collection. We were dazzled by a poetry book from the Renaissance period; signed first editions of books from authors as diverse as Douglas Adams and Muhammed Ali; antique children's illustrated books and even a hand-coloured illustrated South African bird book. The owner also had an impressive coin / currency collection which was fascinating to view.
If the literature or objets d'art were not enough, there was also a delightfully cosy dog (pictured) - irresistible! I walked away a very happy customer and will go out my way to visit again when I'm next in South Africa.
Wow! Amazing diversity of previously owned and collectible books. I enjoyed the section on books about birds and birding - several shelves worth - just on this topic - including many rare and classic texts.
The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel
R240.00
The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel serves as both a foundational study for Renaissance literature enthusiasts and an enduringly entertaining read, preserving the audacious spirit and humanist insight that define Rabelais’s genius.
Sold
This copy has found a new home. We buy and source books like this, so WhatsApp us and we will look out for another copy for you.
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The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel, translated by Jacques Le Clercq, is a distinguished English-language edition of François Rabelais’s seminal Renaissance masterpiece, first issued in 1944 by The Modern Library. This comprehensive volume presents all five books of Gargantua and Pantagruel, preserving the exuberant wit, satire, and philosophical depth of Rabelais while rendering his complex, playful French into accessible English prose. Le Clercq’s translation is celebrated for its fidelity to Rabelais’s linguistic inventiveness and the vivid energy of his characters, offering modern readers both clarity and literary vibrancy.
Rabelais’s work, written in the 16th century, chronicles the adventures, education, and encounters of the giants Gargantua and his son Pantagruel, blending ribald humour, humanist philosophy, and biting social commentary. The 1944 Modern Library edition includes extensive notes, introductions, and contextual explanations that situate the narrative within Renaissance France, its humanist intellectual currents, and its critique of contemporary society, politics, and religion. Le Clercq’s careful translation retains Rabelais’s exuberant wordplay, grotesque humour, and philosophical asides, making it a definitive edition for Anglophone readers.
Collectors and literary scholars value The Complete Works of Rabelais both for its editorial quality and for its historical significance as a mid-twentieth-century English translation of one of Western literature’s most influential texts. The Complete Works of Rabelais – The Five Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel serves as both a foundational study for Renaissance literature enthusiasts and an enduringly entertaining read, preserving the audacious spirit and humanist insight that define Rabelais’s genius.
Condition: Very Good – The dust jacket is edge worn with small tears. Red cloth with publisher logo in black and gilt and black with gilt text on the spine. The pages are slightly discoloured.
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