Jean de La Fontaine's The Cat and the Old Rat

Abstract

This delightful little book has six parts: the French version of La Fontaine's fable, a literal English translation, Patrizia Miller's translation, Linda's Essay, a glossary, and various paw-notes, cattenda & ratta in the form of small papers to insert into the book. The book is almost 5 ¾ square. It is perhaps typical of the book that it includes that almost. There is little that is symmetrical or predictable about this creative effort. One inserted slip advertises The Orirana Press Series of excellent, even very good, but fairly obscure writers. LaFontaine uses both of the ploys often used in this fable: the cat first hangs himself from a peg and then disguises himself in flour. A wise rat sees through the disguise and says that he neither flour nor sack will view as libation and will never go hear him. Caution has something to do with security. The essay by Linda Fairbanks is on the French and the penchant to read. The colophon page at the back is typically clever, as it proclaims that the book is a keepsake presented to members of the Rounce & Coffin Club by D. Nicholas in 1986. Above the same rat-figure that is imprinted in red on the blue cover is Ratified. The four inserts that came with my copy had these texts: A clowder of Cats;/a shudder of Rats./MZ. Rratum. In the Ratatouille recipe on Page 19A, please note that hamster meat can be substituted if rats are unavailable. CGJ. P.46, footnote. Cattendum. When fitting your cat for roller skates, make sure the boot fits snugly around the area above the paws & that there is ample room in the toe for extension of claws. CGJ. Fourth Supplement & Last One. Patrick Reagh is a classy printer & had nothing to do with any rrata or cattenda; an amachure did them. Anon E. Mouse.