Chapter 6

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.