Grigore Alexandrescu: Fabeln
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Authors
Alexandrescu, Grigore
Berg, Lotte
Taru, Eugen
Issue Date
1957 , 1957?
Volume
Issue
Type
Book, Whole
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Abstract
This German version gives me a chance to understand what was going on in the identical Romanian version of the book: Grigore Alexandrescu: Fabule (1957?). I had already enjoyed the thirty-six illustrations immensely. Now I can see that Alexandrescu offers some strong social critique. 1) The fox as preacher is not listened to when he preaches morality; when he preaches fear and animals' misery, even the king respects him and asks what he wants. The answer? A turkey or two! 2) The elephant takes over as king and appoints the wolf to look after the lambs. A great picture shows him sleeping on the throne while the lambs plead their case against the violent wolf. Does the elephant command the wolf to take only skin but no hair? 3) A land without mirrors receives a sudden influx of them and has to decide to break them all on pain of death! 4) A monk-cat trusted by mice finally eats one at a Lenten ball. 5) In a typical Enlightenment fable, a blackbird asks an owl who does not like the light how he will ever get used to it if he does not come out into it. 6) A captured vulture talks the chickens into freeing him so that he can protect them. Once freed, he immediately attacks them from above. Notice the great claws extending from the vulture's boot (22). 7) The ass tells the nightingale to take him as an example of how to sing. I think the last line from the departing nightingale is loaded: Even if I took your advice, I still could not be an ass. 8) Various waterbirds, including the goose and duck, discuss how best to prepare an unusually great and good fish for the regal swan. After much discussion, they decide that they cannot decide too hastily. By the next morning, the fish has started to spoil and has been eaten by crabs. Enjoy the excellent illustration of the rotting fish (28). 9) The fox preaches King Elephant's injustices, is invited to court to take over the chickens, and goes off the next day complaining of a chicken bone caught in his throat. 10) A court dog proclaims in enlightened fashion the equality of all beasts and promptly turns on a poor mongrel who congratulates him on his liberal views. Alexandrescu: We promote equality, but equality with the great. 11) King Wolf once sermonizes all his nobles about their injustices. A clever old fox asks where he got the lamb's pelt he is wearing, well pictured on 35. 12) A lion locked in fierce warfare with a leopard learns from a prophetic ape that he must sacrifice his strongest in order to win. The rabbit is chosen. Alexandrescu asks if there is any land in the world where the lion is chosen in a case like this. 13) A young calf hears that uncle ox has done well and wants to ask him for some hay. On his first visit, he is not admitted. On his second, he overhears the ox declaring that he has no relatives. 14) A cat learns from a tiger that having great ancestors sheds only a bright glow on today's progeny. 15) King Bear soon learns that deeds, not words (like those from a wolf), show true friendship. Is that a wolf or a fox thumbing his nose in the last illustration (53)? I can find no indication of a publisher! As in the Romanian version, each fable is dated. The four dates are 1832, 1838, 1842, and 1862.
Description
Citation
Publisher
Editura Tineretului?
Jugendverlag
Jugendverlag
License
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PubMed ID
DOI
Identifier
3884 (Access ID)