Favole di animali

Abstract

Twenty-eight years ago I found a book by the same publisher covering fewer fables but using the same illustrations. The publishing history is not easy. That book used a subtitle Fiabe di la Fontaine, Fedro e Esopo. Its illustrations seem better printed. Its pages were larger. It was hardbound. Here there is not even a title-page. The first page announces five categories of fables: fox, mouse, and wolf, interrupted by TH and OF. That book harkened back to a 1960 copyright, which I incorrectly followed; it was published in 1980, and that printing was in 1982. (I also missed that!) This book claims a 1974 copyright and a 1986 printing. New fables here include: the vindictive horse; the man and the frozen serpent; the two mules; the eagle and the dung-beetle; LM; the fattened weasel; the mouse-generals (with a two-page illustration); TMCM; and LS. After all these years, I still enjoy Bodini's illustrations, especially his facial expressions. I am saddened that he receives no recognition here for his work.