Reynard the Fox and Other Fables

A lovely version, brimming with antique wisdom and illustrations but colorful and timely tales.

As a child I always enjoyed reading fables. I thought the stories were fun and interesting. When this edition was available for review, I thought it might be fun to re-read the stories. Fun wasn't quite the right word. I'd somehow managed to forget that fables have morals and I passionately dislike stories that are obvious vehicles for morality.

The stories don't seem to have been updated but are told in their original form. The tone is chatty, condescending, sometimes funny, and always moralistic. Many of the stories focus on Reynard the fox and the many tricks he plays but other animals and even some people get their tur in the spotlight. Reynard is a clever, tricksy fellow, quite full of himself, and I enjoyed reading about his exploits. However, even he gets his comeuppance; no one is immune.

The illustrations have a lovely, old-fashioned feel and the colors are gorgeous. Adults may enjoy reading these stories with their children and the stories provide lots of fodder for discussion. They make a great starting point for teaching and talking about human behavior, manners, animal behavior, and yes, values and morals.

'Reynard the Fox and Other Fables' is a collection of fables from a collection originally published in 1925. This book is a straight reprint, so the stories haven't been modernized. There are also many charming illustrations in this collection.

There are thirteen tales, and many are likely familiar. I was less familiar to Reynard the Fox, but he's a trickster who usually manages to get his way. You'll also find the tortoise and the hare, a dog who gets a "ducking" in a pond, Jocko the Monkey and Mouser the Cat, and others. The animals represent people, so they talk. They also have lessons that we can all still learn.

The stories are easy enough to read, but the style is a bit old-fashioned. I remember a lot of these stories from when I was a kid, but there were quite a few I either don't remember or never knew about. Not all of the outcomes are pleasant. Some are fatal, and the book doesn't shy around those. The stories were adapted by William Trowbridge Larned from early stories by Jean de La Fontaine. The illustrations by John Rae are wonderful on their own.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.