The Fables of Jean de La Fontaine: with Gustave Doré’s complete illustrations

The complete 240 fables, translated into English verse by Walter Thornbury 450 illustrations by Gustave Doré 87 of Doré’s illustrations recreated in full colour specially for this edition Large format (8.25x11 in) High quality 90 gsm paper An Afterword contributed by Ebenezer DuLally Uvney Jean de La Fontaine’s Fables have charmed and enlightened audiences for more than three centuries. Published between 1668 and 1694, these simple, delightful verses infuse timeless wisdom into tales that are as entertaining as they are instructive. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, including Aesop and various Oriental fable traditions, La Fontaine uses animals to portray human nature in all its varied shades – the cunning fox, the naïve crow, the industrious ant and the carefree grasshopper, to name but a few – reflecting the foibles, follies, virtues and vices of human society. The charm and allure of La Fontaine’s Fables are enhanced by Gustave Doré’s remarkable illustrations, which bring to life the wit, wisdom, and charm of the verses with remarkable vibrancy. They capture the spirit of the fables in a uniquely expressive way, bringing out the humour, satire, and moral lessons that are so integral to La Fontaine’s work. They serve not only as a visual complement to the text but also as an independent narrative medium, recounting the fables in a language that speaks directly to the reader’s imagination. For this beautiful orrydian edition, 87 of the illustrations have been recreated in full colour by Michael Richard Hinton. The verses have been translated from the original French into English by Walter Thornbury (1828-1876). Other works with illustrations by Doré, enhanced in full-colour by Michael Richard Hinton, published by orrydian and available on Amazon, include: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ISBN 979- 8392017218 The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe, ISBN 979-8397371063 Blue Beard and other fairy tales, by Michael Richard Hinton, ISBN 979-8877429444 Dante’s Divine Comedy: Inferno, ISBN 979-8389896611 Dante’s Divine Comedy: Purgatorio, ISBN 979-8390498316 Dante’s Divine Comedy: Paradiso, ISBN 979-8390501207 Paradise Lost, by John Milton, ISBN 979-8392095025 Gustave Doré’s Bible: The Old Testament, ISBN 979-8397191159 Gustave Doré’s Bible: The New Testament, ISBN 979-8394485282 Idylls of the King, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ISBN 979-8399640716 Gustave Doré’s Don Quixote, Volume 1, by Miguel de Cervantes. ISBN 979-8857296479 Gustave Doré’s Don Quixote, Volume 2, by Miguel de Cervantes. ISBN 979-8857297889 www.orrydian.co.uk www.orrydian.com