Not generally known as a comic, Marguerite de Navarre's works are marked by a subtle wit that may escape many modern readers. Her technique does not escape Parkin (French literary studies, Bristol U.), who finds the cavalcade of short stories in the so-called Heptaméron possess a certain Rabelaisian quality. He shows how Marguerite de Navarre uses a punitive mode of satire not intended purely humiliate the victim, but to correct a wrong in society, or to resolve an issue at the Clan level. Marguerite de Navarre chooses as her targets national outgroups, such as Italians, or social outgroups such as the clergy and women. She draws parody from medieval patterns, but as far in advance of her day in her understanding of marginalization and the connection of parody with the Christian message. This is both academically rigorous and fun. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)