The Complete Fables of Jean de La Fontaine

Jean La Fontaine author Norman R Shapiro translator David Schorr illustrator John Hollander editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of Illinois Press

Published:15th Oct '07

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The Complete Fables of Jean de La Fontaine cover

An inspired new translation of the work of one of the world's greatest fabulistsInspired new translations of the work of one of the world's greatest fabulists

Told in an elegant style, Jean de la Fontaine's (1621-95) charming animal fables depict sly foxes and scheming cats, vain birds and greedy wolves, all of which subtly express his penetrating insights into French society and the beasts found in all of us. Norman R. Shapiro has been translating La Fontaine's fables for over twenty years, capturing the original work's lively mix of plain and archaic language. This newly complete translation is destined to set the English standard for this work.

Awarded the Lewis Galantière Prize by the American Translators Association, 2008.

Lewis Galantière Prize, American Translators Association, 2008.

"The translations are not literal but instead convey the spirit of the 17th-century writer. The volume includes . . . extensive notes offering comments and explicating sources, references, translation difficulties, and so on; and lovely illustrations by David Schorr. Highly recommended."--Choice


"Ably translated from the French by Shapiro, the voices of the animals, birds, insects (and even the occasional human) who populate La Fontaine's fables come alive in rhyme and rhythm that develop the traditional tales." --Library Journal


"In Shapiro's translations, meaning and sound patterns flow into each other with metrical control and create La Fontaine's soothing melody, which is reinforced through a never-ending wit and humor to articulate and to overcome his distaste for human folly."--Translation Review

  • Winner of <DIV>Lewis Galantière Prize, American Translators Association, 2008.</DIV> 2008

ISBN: 9780252073816

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 40mm

Weight: 794g

504 pages