Fox Tales: Colorful Storybook Edition (Colorful Storybook Edition)

Author: Madam Guiraud
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: The Fox Reynard, a book of animal stories. In this animal world, the weak are often prey for the strong, the foolish are often used by the wise, and the troublemakers who stir up chaos are a cunning fox. Reynard the Fox is both adorable and annoying; he boasts of his cleverness, enjoys playing small tricks, and cannot help but bully the weak, but he also dares to confront the strong, even mocking the mighty Lion King. However, he also makes mistakes, such as being cheated by the clever Cat Uncle when he meets someone even more cunning than himself. In the book, birds and beasts all possess human emotions, and foxes, wolves, rabbits, and sheep are also worldly-wise. The stories come from the animal realm, yet their situations are no different from human society. According to the Reynard the Fox tales, they were first passed down in the folk traditions of France in the 12th or 13th centuries. Therefore, this animal world reflects the medieval human society of that time to some extent, and it still holds contemporary relevance. Reynard the Fox stories have been passed down in France for centuries and have spread far across Europe. Each generation has added its own touches and embellishments. In the 20th century, various modern adaptations have been published. This translation primarily draws from the adaptation by Madam Guiraud (Delagrave, 1969 edition) and incorporates excerpts from other excellent versions. Compared to other adaptations, Madam Guiraud's version is intricate in plot, vivid in narration, and full of humor. The translator has previously translated some works by French masters, and sometimes found it quite challenging, but The Fox Reynard is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable and pleasant translations. — May this book accompany young friends in spending an interesting and joyful Sunday afternoon! This is a long narrative poem in France centered on the fox Reynard, which was widely known in medieval France and is considered one of the most important anti-feudal satirical works in medieval civic literature. The poem consists of 27 interconnected odes, totaling over 30,000 lines, with each ode featuring Reynard the Fox as the protagonist. These stories were already being passed down orally in the 9th and 10th centuries and were recorded in the 10th or 11th centuries. Over time, they were revised and expanded by many poets, reaching over 100,000 lines by the late 14th century. The original authors are unknown, but only Pierre de Saint-Cloud (second group of poems), Richard de Lison (twelfth group of poems), and a priest (ninth group of poems) can be identified. After its publication, several French poets wrote sequels to it, and translations or imitations of it appeared in Germany, England, Italy, and other countries. In 1794, German poet Goethe composed a narrative poem titled The Fox Reynard based on this story. In modern times, many French and Western writers have adapted The Fox Reynard into prose, creating a vivid and beautiful fairy tale that has gained global popularity. The stories of Reynard the Fox are a collection of short tales, some derived from ancient Greek and Roman fables, others from stories in India and other Eastern countries, or from Germanic traditions, but the primary source remains the folk legends of northern France. Thus, it can be considered a fusion of animal stories from both the East and the West. The Fox Reynard primarily depicts the lives of animals. The author portrays the medieval feudal society as a kingdom of beasts and bloodthirsty bandits. The work follows the struggles between Reynard the Fox and the wolf Igraine, who represents the nobility, exposing layers of...