Francois Rabelais (1483?-1553) is a difficult and often misunderstood author, whose reputation for coarse -Rabelaisian- jesting and -Gargantuan- indulgence in food, drink, and sex is highly misleading. He was in fact a committed humanist who expressed strong views on religion, good government, education, and much more through the mock-heroic adventures of his giants.

While most books about Rabelais have relatively little to say about his comedic genius, Enter Rabelais, Laughing analyses the many sides of Rabelais's humor, focusing on why his writing was so hilariously funny to...