Reynard the Fox [Hardcover]

Alain Vaes (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994

A lavish retelling of the classic folktale that teaches a lesson about wisdom and responsibility follows the fox's crafty antics as he matches wits with a wise king.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Consummately witty pictures of fabulist animals in sumptuous court attire propel this lavish story-within-a-story based on a French folktale. A young monarch summons a mysterious hermit in the hopes that the hermit's stories will reveal the "secrets of being a good king." The hermit, ever hooded in monastic cloak, describes the exploits of the cunning fox Reynard and his contests with a lion king. Vaes, who designs sets and costumes for ballet, provides a visual counterpart to the intertwining narratives by "doubling" the art: large panels enact the main story, with animals imaginatively arrayed (seagulls and doves in the diaphanous garb of angels, the dogs of war in a multiplicity of helmets, etc.). Smaller panels simultaneously show a painterly mouse, either standing before an appropriate work-in-progress on his easel or engaged in a action parallel to the story. No "prettying up" of the characters' misdeeds mars the spiral of the story, which tucks in neatly at the end with a clear indication that the shadowy hermit is none other than Reynard. The text falters in spots (why does an ape help the friendless Reynard?) and gratuituous moments add to its already ungainly length, but the breathtaking visuals make repeat visits likely. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Turner Pub; 1st edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570360553
• ISBN-13: 978-1570360558
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,640,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the Very Best Children's Book, September 17, 2010

By 

Stephen Winkler "anguirus" (Santa Clarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Reynard the Fox (Hardcover)

Children may not know it, but like Animal Farm, the book was written as a political statement. Each animal is representative of a special interest, like the Church or the nobility. Reynard the Fox manages to make enemies of all of his fellow forest creatures. Yet, when confronted with an antagonist, he is so slick and clever, that he gets out of every jam. He outwits them. I believe, that the Warner Bros. cartoon character, Bugs Bunny, is based on Reynard the Fox.
Reynard will say, yes you have seen me kill the chickens, but at a distance, the wolf looks like the fox. The wolf, certainly does not appreciate the accusation, but has no defense. After all, when is the last time, that you have seen a wolf eat a carrot or a can of spinach?
In another situation, the farmer's little boy sets a trap for the fox and he is going to beat the living daylights out of the fox, once he catches him. The fox lets the cat know, where there is plenty of food, that will last him a lifetime, only if the cat will give up his dinner to the fox. The cat agrees and the fox gets a free meal. What happens to the cat? Well, you have to buy the book and find out.

5.0 out of 5 stars Trickster story, October 7, 2011

By 

MO "mm" (Eastern Seaboard) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Reynard the Fox (Hardcover)

This is a very well done Trickster story, from medieval times I guess. It may be a metaphor for groups in society, that kind of imagery is common enough, but at the same time it shows something of more traditional culture.