The Works of Francis Rabelais

A scarce set comprising the works of Francois Rabelais, illustrated with explanatory notes and engraved frontispieces. Scarce to find complete in four volumes.Bound in full lightly speckled calf, with red morocco spine labels.Each volume illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, with an engraved title page vignette (portrait of the author) in Vol. 1 only. Collated, complete.Offering the works of Francois Rabelais, translated from the French. With notes by M. le du Chat and others.Rabelais is considered the first great French prose author, best known for his satirist depictions of the grotesque and his giant characters Gargantua and Pantagruel, written in the style of bildungsroman. This 'Works of' collection features these bold stories as well as letters written by Rabelais during his stay in Italy in the year 1526 (to Vol IV). Bound in full lightly speckled calf, with red morocco spine labels.Externally, with rubbing to the extremities. Upper joint of Vol I cracked but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound, with p. 123-142 of Vol I coming away partly. Pages are generally bright and clean. Faded contemporary ownership inscriptions to the front paste downs and to the verso of Vol I and II frontispieces and head of Vol I title. With a few tide marks to the first few leaves of Vol IV. Good. …