This would be a good source for information.

http://todayinliterature.com/biography/francois.rabelais.asp

François Rabelais was born in 1484 (or 1483, 1490, 1495) near the town of Chinon in western France. His father Antoine Rabelais owned vineyards there. According to some sources he was a lawyer, according to others an apothecary or inn-keeper. Little is known about Rabelais’ youth and time at the Abbaye de Seuillé, where he was sent.

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rabela.htm

Trivia///Open the link for more trivia

Progressive rock band Gentle Giant recorded two songs inspired by Gargantua and Pantagruel. These were “Pantagruel’s Nativity” on their 1971 album Acquiring the Taste and “The Advent of Panurge” on 1973’s Octopus (album).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabelais#Trivia

Works of Rabelais

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabelais#Trivia

According to some he died as a free-thinker and jester, saying, “Draw the curtain, the farce is played out”, according to others his end was Christian and edifying.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12619b.htm

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rabela.htm