Francois Rabelais was a French Renaissance writer, physician, and humanist. He is best known for his series of novels, "The Life of Gargantua and Pantagruel," which are satirical and humorous works that critique the social and religious institutions of his time. Rabelais' writing is characterized by its use of bawdy humor, wordplay, and a deep knowledge of classical literature. He is considered one of the most important figures in French literature and his works have had a lasting impact on the development of the novel as a literary form.