La Sagesse du Bonhomme
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Authors
Llewellyn, Robert E.
Issue Date
1947
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Abstract
the first edition of this book was in 1945, and the second in 1946. This edition was limited to 5000 copies. This book does indeed present "The Wisdom of the Fellow." The preface and afterword make clear the author's delight in the wisdom of La Fontaine. The presentation here is chatty, insightful, cultivated. La Fontaine cared little for the interests of some around him, but he was (1) close to nature, (2) wonderfully astute in reading people's characters and (3) clever in finding the right animal stories to portray them. What happens here then is sixteen prose chapters engaging some of La Fontaine's best known animal fables. This copy is fragile, but impressive, not least, for me, because of Simard's fascinating full-page black-and-white illustrations. These are creative! Three of the best are the peacock primping before meeting Juno (71); the young fox leading the rich old goat around for his inheritance (79); and the lissome female frog diving into the water and leaving the anxious rat behind (120). The illustrations have blank backs, and each of the sixteen chapters on fables includes La Fontaine's text at the end. This is a great find, not least for the great swirling representation of La Fontaine on the title-page!
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12662 (Access ID)