Les Contes; Ou, Les Nouvelles Récréations Et Joyeux Devis

This is a collection of 16th-century French tales so sharp they still draw blood. Bonaventure Des Périers, valet to the Queen of Navarre, wrote these stories as a kind of friendly ambush: they look like entertainment, but they're really aimed at the pompous, the hypocritical, and the powerful. There's a priest getting outwitted by a peasant. A merchant tricked by his own vanity. Lovers sneaking through windows while their elders pronounce on proper behavior. Des Périers writes with the quick wit of someone who moved in royal circles but kept his eyes open to the absurdity of it all. The tone is playful, even gentle in places, but don't mistake that for softness. These tales poke at churchmen, nobles, and anyone who takes themselves too seriously. They were controversial in their time, and you can see why. If you like Rabelais but want something more concise, or if you've ever wished medieval fabliaux had survived into the Renaissance with a poet's ear, this is the book.