Selected fables
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2014.
ISBN
0199650721, 9780199650729
Status

Description

La Fontaine's verse fables turned the traditional folktales derived from Aesop and a range of Oriental sources into some of the greatest, and best-loved, poetic works in French. His versions of stories such as The Hare and the Tortoise and The Wolf and the Lamb are witty and sophisticated, satirizing human nature in miniature dramas in which the outcome is always unpredictable. The behavior of both animals and humans is usually centered on deception and cooperation (or the lack of it), as they cheat and fight each other, arguing about life and death, property and food, in an astonishing variety of narrative styles. The fables have long been popular with all ages, though their ironic take on contemporary society in French aristocratic circles is best appreciated by adults. This new translation by Christopher Betts matches the original in inventiveness and subtlety. It includes half of the fables first published in twelve books between 1668 and 1693, across the full range of subjects and themes. The fables are illustrated with a selection of Gustave Dore's majestic engravings, and an introduction offers insights into La Fontaine's life and literary artistry.

Copies

LocationCall NumberStatus
Tinley Park Public Library - 1st Floor398.24 LAFOn Shelf

More Details

Published
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2014.
Format
Book
Physical Desc
272 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Language
English
ISBN
0199650721, 9780199650729

Notes

Description
La Fontaine's verse fables turned the traditional folktales derived from Aesop and a range of Oriental sources into some of the greatest, and best-loved, poetic works in French. His versions of stories such as The Hare and the Tortoise and The Wolf and the Lamb are witty and sophisticated, satirizing human nature in miniature dramas in which the outcome is always unpredictable. The behavior of both animals and humans is usually centered on deception and cooperation (or the lack of it), as they cheat and fight each other, arguing about life and death, property and food, in an astonishing variety of narrative styles. The fables have long been popular with all ages, though their ironic take on contemporary society in French aristocratic circles is best appreciated by adults. This new translation by Christopher Betts matches the original in inventiveness and subtlety. It includes half of the fables first published in twelve books between 1668 and 1693, across the full range of subjects and themes. The fables are illustrated with a selection of Gustave Dore's majestic engravings, and an introduction offers insights into La Fontaine's life and literary artistry.

Published Reviews

Library Journal Review

Seventeenth-century poet La Fontaine (1621-95) wrote nearly 240 fables in verse, which were published in 12 books from 1668 to 1693. While many of these legends were based on Aesop's fables, other sources include the Panchatantra, an ancient Indian text, as well as writings by Giovanni Verdizotti and Plutarch. Betts (retired, Univ. of Warwick), whose previously published translations include works by French writers Charles Perrault and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, here collects roughly half of La Fontaine's tales, ranging from early works such as "The Fox and the Crow" and "The Hare and the Tortoise" to later ones including "Women and Secrets" and "The Forest and the Woodcutter." Betts's translation does an excellent job of conveying the lightness and grace of the original pieces. Even those overly familiar with many of these myths will find it difficult not to be charmed by how well these verses flow, with few exceptions. Also included is a concise introduction and 23 wonderful engravings by Dore originally published in a 19th-century French edition. VERDICT This excellent new translation should appeal to most students of literature and anyone with an interest in fables.-William Walsh, Georgia State Univ. Libs., Atlanta (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

La Fontaine, J. d., Betts, C., & Doré, G. (2014). Selected fables . Oxford University Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

La Fontaine, Jean de, 1621-1695, Christopher. Betts and Gustave Doré. 2014. Selected Fables. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

La Fontaine, Jean de, 1621-1695, Christopher. Betts and Gustave Doré. Selected Fables Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

La Fontaine, J. d., Betts, C. and Doré, G. (2014). Selected fables. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

La Fontaine, Jean de, Christopher Betts, and Gustave Doré. Selected Fables Oxford University Press, 2014.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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