ra b'lai', (about 1490-about 1553), a humorous and satirical French writer. He was at first a monk, but his desire for broad learning, beyond the bounds which his order permitted, brought him into disfavor, and he left the monastery for Montpellier, where he studied medicine and later practiced as a physician. In 1532 he went to Lyons as hospital physician, and two years later he accompanied Jean du Bellay on an embassy to Rome. On his return to France, he went first to Paris; but not long after he was once more at Lyons. In 1536 Rabelais was again at Rome, and on this occasion he obtained from the pope absolution for the violation of his monastic vows and permission to practice medicine and to hold benefices. Probably he was in Paris in 1546, but during most of 1546 and part of 1547 he was physician to the town of Metz. About 1550 Rabelais was appointed to the curacy of Mendon, but he resigned the position and died in 1553, according to most authorities. His great work is the Gargantua and Pantagruel, a satirical romance dealing with the corrupt society of the time. By many Rabelais has been set down as a gross buffoon, and there is much in his writings to justify the harsh judgment, though he probably did or said little that was repulsive to the taste of his times. As regards the purpose of his work, many have looked upon Rabelais as a serious reformer of abuses, religious, moral and social, assuming an extravagant masquerade for the purpose of protecting himself from the possible consequences of his assaults on established institutions.