The Contes et nouvelles en vers of Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) were published at various times throughout his life, both before and after his celebrated Fables, between 1664 and 1685, and even posthumously. In quite a different key from the more innocent Fables, the Contes often threatened to get him in trouble with both Church and Acadmie. It was, indeed, the bawdy tales of Boccaccio, Rabelais, and other medieval and renaissance masters of ribaldry that inspired La Fontaine's Contes, presented here in a chronologically ...
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The Contes et nouvelles en vers of Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) were published at various times throughout his life, both before and after his celebrated Fables, between 1664 and 1685, and even posthumously. In quite a different key from the more innocent Fables, the Contes often threatened to get him in trouble with both Church and Acadmie. It was, indeed, the bawdy tales of Boccaccio, Rabelais, and other medieval and renaissance masters of ribaldry that inspired La Fontaine's Contes, presented here in a chronologically and stylistically diverse selection translated by Norman R. Shapiro. This spirited recent translation, spanning the entire corpus, offers about half the tales, from early to late, in all their variety of lengths and poetic narrative forms. The mildly suggestive mingle with the frankly bawdy, while others would hardly raise a vicar's eyebrow. Yet all these gems from one of France's truly great poets, scrupulously faithful to the originals, are rendered with the spirit of his style, his subtle rhythms, cadences, rhymes, and delectable wit left intact.
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Seller's Description:
First edition thus (softcover). 8vo (23cm by 15cm), xxii, 273pp, 2pp adverts. Illustrations by David Schorr. Original laminated card wrappers. There is some bowing of the covers; otherwise, this book is in very good condition. ISBN 0691015325.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in No d/j as Published jacket. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall; Type: Book The Contes et nouvelles en vers of Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) were published at various times throughout his life, both before and after his celebrated Fables, between 1664 and 1685, and even posthumously. In quite a different key from the more innocent Fables, the Contes often threatened to get him in trouble with both Church and Acadmie. It was, indeed, the bawdy tales of Boccaccio, Rabelais, and other medieval and renaissance masters of ribaldry that inspired La Fontaine's Contes, presented here in a chronologically and stylistically diverse selection translated by Norman R. Shapiro. This spirited recent translation, spanning the entire corpus, offers about half the tales, from early to late, in all their variety of lengths and poetic narrative forms. The mildly suggestive mingle with the frankly bawdy, while others would hardly raise a vicar's eyebrow. Yet all these gems from one of France's truly great poets, scrupulously faithful to the originals, are rendered with the spirit of his style, his subtle rhythms, cadences, rhymes, and delectable wit left intact. 273pp. N.B. Corners slightly creased.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in No d/j as Published jacket. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall; Type: Book The Contes et nouvelles en vers of Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) were published at various times throughout his life, both before and after his celebrated Fables, between 1664 and 1685, and even posthumously. In quite a different key from the more innocent Fables, the Contes often threatened to get him in trouble with both Church and Acadmie. It was, indeed, the bawdy tales of Boccaccio, Rabelais, and other medieval and renaissance masters of ribaldry that inspired La Fontaine's Contes, presented here in a chronologically and stylistically diverse selection translated by Norman R. Shapiro. This spirited recent translation, spanning the entire corpus, offers about half the tales, from early to late, in all their variety of lengths and poetic narrative forms. The mildly suggestive mingle with the frankly bawdy, while others would hardly raise a vicar's eyebrow. Yet all these gems from one of France's truly great poets, scrupulously faithful to the originals, are rendered with the spirit of his style, his subtle rhythms, cadences, rhymes, and delectable wit left intact. 273pp. N.B. Corners slightly creased.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Tight, clean, unmarked with minor wear to edges and corners. Original French text with English translation on the facing page. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. Contains: Illustrations. Lockert Library of Poetry in Translation, 38. Audience: General/trade.