"Gargantua and Pantagruel" by François Rabelais is a sprawling and irreverent series of novels that satirize the social, political, and religious norms of Renaissance France. The work follows the adventures of the giant Gargantua and his son Pantagruel as they embark on a series of fantastical and absurd escapades. Through its exaggerated characters and ribald humor, "Gargantua and Pantagruel" offers biting commentary on the hypocrisies and follies of Rabelais' contemporary society. The novels explore themes of education, humanism, and the nature of power, while also incorporating elements of philosophy, theology, and folklore.