CHAPTER VI. Rabelais 105

RABELAIS 105

The anonymity, or at least impersonality, of authorship up to this point--Rabelais unquestionably the first very great known writer--But the first great novelist?--Some objections considered--And dismissed as affecting the general attraction of the book--Which lies, largely if not wholly, in its story-interest--Contrast of the Moyen de Parvenir--A general theme possible--A reference, to be taken up later, to the last Book--Running survey of the whole--Gargantua--The birth and education--The war--The Counsel to Picrochole--The peace and the Abbey of Thelema--Pantagruel I. The contrasted youth--Panurge--Short view of the sequels in Book II.--Pantagruel II. (Book III.) The marriage of Panurge and the consultations on it--Pantagruel III. (Book IV.) The first part of the voyage--Pantagruel IV. (Book V.) The second part of the voyage: the "Isle Sonnante"--"La Quinte"--The conclusion and The Bottle.