Fables

by Marie de France (Editor)

Marie de France, one of the best-known medieval women, is justly famous for her Lais, but her longer work, the Fables, has been newly discovered by modern audiences. This collection of 103 tales is the earliest extant vernacular collection of fables from western Europe. Marie de France's sources are not clear; she appears to claim a unique source, but that is obviously not true; the first forty tales are part of the Latin tradition, specifically the Romulus Nilantii, but the other sixty-three seem to come from all other Greek and Latin works, fabliaux, monks' tales, the Panchatantra, and the folk traditions of Italy, Germany, Greece, France, and the Middle East. Whatever her source, she contributed her own perspective - a wry fatalism, timely social commentary, and a feminine perspective. Harriet Spiegel's translation follows the original closely; the rhyming couplets not only render the tone and form of Marie de France's text with sympathy and fidelity, but also are particularly apt for the genre and sit squarely in the tradition of the English verse fable. Originally published by University of Toronto Press, 1987.

Genres: Poetry, Medieval, Fiction, France, School, Literature, Classics

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1170

About the author

Marie de France ("Mary of France", around 1135-1200) was a poet evidently born in France and living in England during the late 12th century. Virtually nothing is known of her early life, though she wrote a form of continental French[citation needed:] that was copied by Anglo-Norman scribes. Therefore, most of the manuscripts of her work bear Anglo-Norman traits. She also translated some Latin literature and produced an influential version of Aesop's Fables.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit that I am torn over this book - the illustrations are brilliant the fables and suitably thought provoking but the quality of the book is really disappointing even when you take in to account it is an ex-library book where they have clearly ripped out the front page (I presume where the library record and tag were kept). The reason for this disappointment is that the whole book has been mis-aligned - with each (yes each) page number being cut off at the bottom, so you can just make the number our but it goes right to the edge of the page.

But the book itself is amazing - it has been printed to look like an original illuminated manuscript with gilding and extra think pages to make it feel like a real manuscript - it is such a shame then that the quality of the binding did not reflect this.

And what is more I actually recognise some of the fables- true it will drive me nuts trying to remember where I first saw or heard them but yes I seen some of these before which in a rather childish kind of way makes me really pleased.

A potentially amazing book let down but the printers quality control.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of Aesop's Fables leave me scratching my head, but they are fairly entertaining. Supposedly Marie de France translated some into Middle French, and here we have some of them translated yet again to English. The text, however, is just something to hang these gorgeous illustrations on.

[Flo Svn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belles fables, écrites par Marie De France au XIIe siècle, avec de belles morales. La Fontaine s'en inspire pour ses œuvres.

[Camille Mourato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je suis scandalisée : j'ai eu la sensation que La Fontaine, bien que se basant sur les mêmes fables originales d'Ésope, avait tout pris de Marie de France !
Les fables de cette dernière m'ont été très agréables à lire. Les rimes et le rythme y sont particulièrement intelligents et musicaux, les morales, qui ici, contrairement à La Fontaine, sont exprimées explicitement à chaque fable, sont toujours pertinentes et moqueuses.
J'ai adoré découvrir cette brillante œuvre féminine, datant en plus, du Moyen-âge : Marie de France est une véritable précurseuse des révoltes féministes !

[Mad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tellement plus clair et agréable à lire que Lafontaine.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent fables in here! Also some that left a bit to be desired, but the illustrations are fantastic and I really enjoyed a solid 3/4 of the fables.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Brittany Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this collection of Aesop's fables for a Medieval Lit class. Most of the books and poetry that we read in that class were rather boring and uninspiring, but Marie de France's Fables made up for everything. You have never really read Aesop's tales until you've read Marie's version. Warning! These are not your children's version so don't expect them to be for a young audience. Many of the tales have themes of rape, murder and betrayal. However, all of them are still funny and enjoyable. Darkly funny!
http://brittanysblogofrandomthings.bl...

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and will continue to read the fables

[Rob Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so desperately wanted werewolf poetry....sinister...I don't know why I am even reading this.. I am tempted to put some of the French in goolge translate to see what gets spit out.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly entertaining!

[Ian Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection and well-translated.