Krilòff’s Fables.

COXWELL, Charles Fillingham [Ivan Krylov].

$75.00

Item Number: 148323

London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., LTD, c. 1900.

Early edition of this collection of fables by Russian fabulist Ivan Krylov. Duodecimo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with four black and white plates. In near fine condition. Translated from the Russian into English in the original metres by Charles Fillingham Coxwell.

Krilòff’s Fables, translated into English verse by C. Fillingham Coxwell, is a significant contribution to the reception of Russian literature in the Anglophone world, offering a faithful rendition of Ivan Krylov’s celebrated moral and satirical tales. Published in the 19th century, Coxwell’s translation seeks to preserve the metrical and rhetorical qualities of the original Russian while making the fables accessible to English-speaking audiences. Krylov, often referred to as the "Russian La Fontaine," uses anthropomorphized animals and allegorical narratives to critique social hypocrisy, political corruption, and human folly. Coxwell’s version not only introduces Krylov's work to a broader audience but also underscores the enduring relevance of his fables in illustrating universal human behaviors and societal critiques.