The Fables of Avianus.

Baltimore, MD The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993. Paperback First Edition Thus [1993], unstated. Fine in Wraps: binding square and secure; text clean. Virtually 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. 55pp. With a Foreword By Jack Zipes. Illustrated by Neil Welliver. First Edition Thus [1993], unstated. Trade Paperback. These 42 Roman fables from the early 5th century A.D. are translated into a free-verse style which is quite readable. They remained popular into the Middle Ages, with their emphasis on hyperbole, the grotesque, and ironic twists. Avianus's fables are retellings of the fables of Babrius's fables which are part of the Aesop and Indic fable tradition. Zipes' forward provides a very short history of the fable tradition. The translation by Slavitt is brilliant - the translation is loose in a way that allows Slavitt to translate the irony of the original. The fables are great fun to read - you'll never the heavily get the preachy tone that often appears in translations. Here you will meet Charlie the Tuna; you'll find the crabby crab mother lecturing "Why can't you look where you're going, go where you're looking, pick up your feet, put your best foot forward, try a little harder, stand up straight, pay attention, put yourself sometines in the other person's shoes, ..." If you can't have fun with this collection of fables, don't be such a sourpuss, look on the bright side, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? ...(it's all in there).