The Fables of Pilpay
Loading...
Authors
Anderson, Alexander (engraver)
Harris, Joseph (translator)
Mitford, John
Issue Date
1872
Type
Book, Whole
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
A good preface sketches the text's history. Apparently, Knatchbull's English came out in 1819. This edition revises one that came out under anonymous authorship in 1818. The book follows a rhythm of one illustration per fable, and adds some end-decorations. I find the illustrations small but engaging. Did the publisher color the engaging title-page illustration of a seated man writing? Kalila (female) and Damna (male) are married to each other. The fox substitutes for the jackal throughout. Damna here starts out at least as an upright though ambitious character. He handles beginning negotiations for getting the lion and bull to meet without pushing himself forward. But when Cohotorbe the bull becomes the lion's closest friend, jealousy takes over in Damna. This version does not offer much development of emotional struggles and depths, e.g., in the lion's learning from Damna of Cohotorbe's alleged betrayals (99). Many fables here are differently told from what I am used to. There are many new fables, e.g., II 18: The Hunter, the Fox, and the Leopard. Dramatic moments, like the battle of the lion and bull (129), are rendered very quickly--too quickly, I would say. The division into five chapters is completely this author's. There is a double T of C, general and by fable. Pencilled remarks on the title and colophon pages. See 1910? for the Chandos reprint of this work.
Description
Citation
Publisher
NY: Hurd and Houghton/Cambridge: Riverside Press