"Fabliaux, both fair and foul, constituted one of the most important medieval genres and were at the center of medieval literature and thought. Their pertinence to social classes as well as their parodic character, joyful tone, derision of pomposity, and witty self-mockery place them as counterparts to other medieval masterpieces. The introduction discusses the origin and history of the genre and reasons for its immense popularity in the middle ages, the role of jongleurs in fabliaux performance and composition, messages inherent in the tales, and the demise of the genre. Each tale is prefaced by a concise introduction."