Inspired new translations of the work of one of the world's greatest fabulists

Told in an elegant style, Jean de la Fontaine's (1621-95) charming animal fables depict sly foxes and scheming cats, vain birds and greedy wolves, all of which subtly express his penetrating insights into French society and the beasts found in all of us. Norman R. Shapiro has been translating La Fontaine's fables for over twenty years, capturing the original work's lively mix of plain and archaic language. This newly complete translation is destined to set the English standard for this work.

Awarded the Lewis Galantière Prize by the American Translators Association, 2008.

| Contents Translator's Preface Introduction by John Hollander The Fables For Monseigneur le Dauphin Book I The Cricket and the Ant The Crow and the Fox The Frog Who Would Grow as Big as the Ox The Two Mules The Wolf and the Hound The Heifer, the Goat, and the Lamb in Consort with the Lion The Beggar's Sack The Swallow and the Little Birds The City Rat and the Country Rat The Wolf and the Lamb The Man and His Image The Dragon with Many Heads and the Dragon with Many Tails The Thieves and the Ass Simonides Saved by the Gods Death and the Wretched Man & Death and the Woodsman The Middle-aged Man and His Two Mistresses The Fox and the Stork The Child and the Schoolmaster The Cock and the Pearl The Hornets and the Honeybees The Oak and the Reed Book II Against Those with Too Difficult Tastes The Rats in Council Assembled The Wolf Pleading against the Fox before the Ape The Two Bulls and a Frog The Bat and the Two Weasels The Bird Wounded by an Arrow The Mastiff Bitch and Her Friend The Eagle and the Dung Beetle The Lion and the Gnat The Ass with a Load of Sponges, and the Ass with a Load of Salt The Lion and the Rat & The Dove and the Ant The Astrologer Who Happens to Fall into a Well The Hare and the Frogs The Cock and the Fox The Crow Who Wanted to Imitate the Eagle The Peacock Who Complained to Juno The Cat Metamorphosed into a Woman The Lion and the Ass out Hunting The Will Explained by ¿esop Book III The Miller, His Son, and the Ass The Limbs and the Stomach The Wolf Turned Shepherd The Frogs Who Ask for a King 5 The Fox and the Goat The Eagle, the Wild Sow, and the Cat The Drunkard and His Wife Gout and the Spider The Wolf and the Stork The Lion Brought Down by Man The Fox and the Grapes The Swan and the Cook The Wolf and the Ewes The Lion Grown Old Philomela and Procne The Drowned Wife The Weasel in the Larder The Cat and an Old Rat Book IV The Lion in Love The Shepherd and the Sea The Fly and the Ant The Gardener and His Lord The Ass and the Pup The War between the Rats and the Weasels The Ape and the Dolphin The Man with the Wooden Idol The Jay Dressed in the Peacock's Feathers The Camel and the Floating Sticks The Frog and the Rat The Tribute Sent by the Animals to Alexander The Horse Who Sought Revenge on the Stag The Fox and the Bust The Wolf, the She-goat, and the Kid & The Wolf, the Mother, and the Child A Reflection from Socrates The Old Man and His Sons The Oracle and the Infidel The Miser Who Lost His Treasure The Master's Eye The Lark, Her Little Ones, and the Farmer Who Owns the Field Book V The Woodsman and Mercury The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot The Little Fish and the Fisherman The Hare and His Ears The Fox Who Lost His Tail The Old Woman and the Two Servants The Satyr and the Passerby The Horse and the Wolf The Ploughman and His Sons The Mountain in Labor Dame Fortune and the Child The Doctors The Hen with the Golden Eggs The Ass with a Load of Holy Relics The Deer and the Vine The Snake and the File 6 The Hare and the Partridge The Eagle and the Owl The Lion Going off to...