Folio Archives 390: Fifty Fables of La Fontaine LE 2013
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1wcarter
Fifty Fables of La Fontaine LIMITED EDITION 2013
The 50 stories, written by 17th century man of letters Jean de la Fontaine, appear here in English using the translation of Norman Shapiro. Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695) was the most famous French fabulist, and one of the most widely read poets of his time. He is known above all for his fables which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France and in French regional languages. His most famous quote is “Destiny is often met in the paths we take to avoid it”.
The book is introduced by Sarah Bakewell who sets it in its literary and historical context. The book contains more than fifty colour illustrations (one or every story plus a frontispiece and some page fillers) by Quentin Blake, that bring the tales to life. Blake described his work on the book as “a labour of love”.
The stories include “The Hare and the Tortoise”, “The City Rat and the Country Rat”, The Oak and the Reed”, “The Cat and the Fox”, “The Cat Metamorphosed into a Woman'” and “The Hare and the Frogs”.
This edition was limited to 1000 copies printed on Modigliani paper. The page tops are gilded and the 99 page book is bound in dark green Indian goatskin with the title blocked in gold foil on the cover and spine. The light brown slipcase is gilt titled in a script by Blake on all sides and measures 29.8x22.8cm. The original cost from the Folio Society was £245.
Wrap-around montage of slipcase
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
The 50 stories, written by 17th century man of letters Jean de la Fontaine, appear here in English using the translation of Norman Shapiro. Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695) was the most famous French fabulist, and one of the most widely read poets of his time. He is known above all for his fables which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France and in French regional languages. His most famous quote is “Destiny is often met in the paths we take to avoid it”.
The book is introduced by Sarah Bakewell who sets it in its literary and historical context. The book contains more than fifty colour illustrations (one or every story plus a frontispiece and some page fillers) by Quentin Blake, that bring the tales to life. Blake described his work on the book as “a labour of love”.
The stories include “The Hare and the Tortoise”, “The City Rat and the Country Rat”, The Oak and the Reed”, “The Cat and the Fox”, “The Cat Metamorphosed into a Woman'” and “The Hare and the Frogs”.
This edition was limited to 1000 copies printed on Modigliani paper. The page tops are gilded and the 99 page book is bound in dark green Indian goatskin with the title blocked in gold foil on the cover and spine. The light brown slipcase is gilt titled in a script by Blake on all sides and measures 29.8x22.8cm. The original cost from the Folio Society was £245.
Wrap-around montage of slipcase
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2Macumbeira
Thanks for all that work.
I feel bad that. I missed that one...
I feel bad that. I missed that one...
3David_Mauduit
That book looks like a great FS production. To bad they don't provide the French text along.
In France, together with "The Hare and the Tortoise", "The cricket and the ant" and "The crow and the fox" are the most popular. We have to learn and recite some of them at school.
In France, together with "The Hare and the Tortoise", "The cricket and the ant" and "The crow and the fox" are the most popular. We have to learn and recite some of them at school.
4bacchus.
There wasn’t a standard edition from what I can see, right? It would be great next to Voltaire’s Candide. Blake’s drawings are some of the finest I’ve seen here, probably only seconded by Riddley Walker.
5wcarter
>4 bacchus.:
No standard edition was published.
No standard edition was published.
6Macumbeira
I was able to buy Candide in French with the Blake illustrations. But was a French folio edition, not a. Folio society edition
7cottonoverwood
>4 bacchus.: Absolutely agree regarding the quality of Blake’s pictures - having recently acquired a copy on the strength of this article. My sentiment mirrors your own. I’ve never tired of Blake’s work: ‘Ridley’, ‘Fables’ and ‘Cold Comfort Farm’ I consider his best work for Folio.
