The Fables of La Fontaine
Illustrated by Jií Triko
Originally adapted by Oldřich Syrovátka and translated by I. T. Havlü
Publisher: Golden Pleasure Books, London, 1962
Printed in Czechoslovakia
Hardcover
Page Count: 92
In the gallery of great fairy tales/folk tale authors, we think of Grimm, Aesop, Andersen, and Perrault first. La Fontaine is not far behind, but he trails because he really just repackaged known tales rather than doing any original research like the Grimms or actual inventive writing like Andersen. But boy could he write. His narrative style is wonderful in French, and good translations make them funny and dramatic and smooth in English. The Fox and the Crown, the Ant and the Grasshopper, and the Lion and the Mouse are still familiar to us today, as are probably others we tell but forget they were revivified by him.
The 1940s to the 1960s were flush times for illustrated children’s books. The baby boom, general prosperity, and democratization of artistic interests created a ready market. Golden, like other publishers, sought out great illustrators. Many of the best had European roots and perhaps had a deeper feel for the tales that originated in their lands. To restrain costs the publishers sought out low-cost high-quality printing firms. Czechoslovakia had a strong and cheap printing sector, and many books were printed there, especially those needing elaborate or subtle colors and shading. Thus it is with this wonderful volume of French tales illustrated and printed in Central Europe for an American audience.
Condition: Good to Very Good. Some tears on the dust jacket.
Illustrated by Jií Triko
Originally adapted by Oldřich Syrovátka and translated by I. T. Havlü
Publisher: Golden Pleasure Books, London, 1962
Printed in Czechoslovakia
Hardcover
Page Count: 92
In the gallery of great fairy tales/folk tale authors, we think of Grimm, Aesop, Andersen, and Perrault first. La Fontaine is not far behind, but he trails because he really just repackaged known tales rather than doing any original research like the Grimms or actual inventive writing like Andersen. But boy could he write. His narrative style is wonderful in French, and good translations make them funny and dramatic and smooth in English. The Fox and the Crown, the Ant and the Grasshopper, and the Lion and the Mouse are still familiar to us today, as are probably others we tell but forget they were revivified by him.
The 1940s to the 1960s were flush times for illustrated children’s books. The baby boom, general prosperity, and democratization of artistic interests created a ready market. Golden, like other publishers, sought out great illustrators. Many of the best had European roots and perhaps had a deeper feel for the tales that originated in their lands. To restrain costs the publishers sought out low-cost high-quality printing firms. Czechoslovakia had a strong and cheap printing sector, and many books were printed there, especially those needing elaborate or subtle colors and shading. Thus it is with this wonderful volume of French tales illustrated and printed in Central Europe for an American audience.
Condition: Good to Very Good. Some tears on the dust jacket.
Illustrated by Jií Triko
Originally adapted by Oldřich Syrovátka and translated by I. T. Havlü
Publisher: Golden Pleasure Books, London, 1962
Printed in Czechoslovakia
Hardcover
Page Count: 92
In the gallery of great fairy tales/folk tale authors, we think of Grimm, Aesop, Andersen, and Perrault first. La Fontaine is not far behind, but he trails because he really just repackaged known tales rather than doing any original research like the Grimms or actual inventive writing like Andersen. But boy could he write. His narrative style is wonderful in French, and good translations make them funny and dramatic and smooth in English. The Fox and the Crown, the Ant and the Grasshopper, and the Lion and the Mouse are still familiar to us today, as are probably others we tell but forget they were revivified by him.
The 1940s to the 1960s were flush times for illustrated children’s books. The baby boom, general prosperity, and democratization of artistic interests created a ready market. Golden, like other publishers, sought out great illustrators. Many of the best had European roots and perhaps had a deeper feel for the tales that originated in their lands. To restrain costs the publishers sought out low-cost high-quality printing firms. Czechoslovakia had a strong and cheap printing sector, and many books were printed there, especially those needing elaborate or subtle colors and shading. Thus it is with this wonderful volume of French tales illustrated and printed in Central Europe for an American audience.
Condition: Good to Very Good. Some tears on the dust jacket.