Fábulas de Iriarte

Abstract

This little (5¼ x 7) book of 158 pages is highly unusual, I believe, because one seldom finds Iriarte illustrated. Here it seems as though every fable gets a line-drawing illustration. These cartoons are lively and revealing. They catch, I believe, some of Iriarte's cynical spirit. Besides the line drawings, there are four full-page colored illustrations. The beginning T of C lists some seventy-four fables. Just before that T of C is apparently a list of seven colored illustrations! What happened to the other three? Be careful: the title of a full-page picture is a phrase from the fable, not the title of the fable. Be also forewarned that each picture does not occur necessarily with its fable. The cover picture of Squirrel and Horse shows up again facing 36; its fable does not appear until 144. There are also occasional printer's designs as endpieces; they seem unconnected with their fables' themes. One of my favorites, The Bear, the Monkey, and the Pig, shows up with a good line-drawing on 11. Another favorite, The Wolf and the Shepherd, has a good cartoon (57-58). The Flute-Playing Donkey is on 129. Digging into this book has inspired me to reread Iriarte. Luckily, my one English version -- by George Devereux in 1846 -- is replicated online. Two worms were apparently well fed on the early and late portions of this book, respectively. Canvas spine. The Cuentos Ballesta dwarf carrying two stacks of books on his back is a clever addition to the title-page and the rear cover. The title-page is inscribed Odila Bastin. The book was first sold at a Spanish-speaking branch of Harrod's. Not in Bodemann.