Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of this classic depiction of Aesop on stage, here, in all their wisdom and humor, are the best of these timeless fables, selected and adapted by Barbara McClintock and illustrated in her inimitable nineteenth-century anthropomorphic style.
This collection contains the artist’s interpretations of nine fables, including such familiar ones as “The Fox and the Grapes,” and a fine selection of lesser-known examples, “The Wolf and the Lamb” and “The Crow and the Peacocks.” All are revitalized by McClintock’s uncanny ability to capture humanity, with all its strengths and weaknesses, in the expressions of her exquisitely drawn costumed creations. Filled with the delicacy of line and color that has come to be her trademark, these images are bound to please readers of all ages as well as collectors of fables for another generation.
The graceful full-color illustrations are both delicate and theatrical. . . . The whole feel of this book is in the tradition of La Fontaine: gay, witty, full of charm and foible.
—The New York Times
McClintock proves herself a master. Her delicate line and exquisite watercolors suggest elegant Victorian hand-colored engravings in the grand tradition of J.J. Grandville, Charles Bennett, and Randolph Caldecott.
—Washington Post Book World
McClintock’s wittily stylish illustrations have the charm and detail of 19th-century children’s books. Her human-like animals are marvelously lively and expressive.
—Entertainment Weekly
As one would expect from Godine, the book is beautifully done. . . . McClintock’s vision and artistry make this new edition a joy to behold and to hold. . . . A stunning gift book for all ages, and one that should have a shelf life of generations.
—Bloomsbury Review