Kalila and Dimna: Selected Fables of Bidpai.

Abstract

Some of the most delightful reading I have done in a while. Wood has skillfully arranged Friendship stories from Bidpai in a delightful contemporary story within story compendium: racy, vigorous, full of zest, funny as Lessing declares. The outer layer of the story concerns Bidpai and the King; the next level deals with The Lion and Schanzibah and Zirac the Rat. Other stories are folded in, chiefly around the jackal brothers Kalila and Iago-like Dimna at the lion's court. The T of C lists most of the fables, including the Aesopic TT (148). Other excellent cycles and stories include: The Monkey Carpenter (49), The Dervish (63), and The Poisoned Madam (68). Pleasing little drawings, often based on Bodleian Pococke 400. The first English Bidpai since 1888. It is unfortunate that Wood relied only on English versions.