Gay's Fables

Title

en_US Gay's Fables

Description

en_US This is a hardbound book (hard cover)

en_US Sixth edition

en_US With elucidations and comments by the Very Rev. Archdeacon Coxe

Creator

en_US Gay, John

Contributor

en_US Coxe

Date

2018-03-05T17:13:56Z

en_US 2017-06

en_US 1838

Date Available

2018-03-05T17:13:56Z

Date Issued

en_US 1838

Abstract

en_US Instead of a publisher, one reads on the title-page "Sold by All London Booksellers"! I do believe that that is a first for me! Gay was illustrated by Thomas Bewick in 1779 and William Harvey in 1856. Bodemann lists no edition of Gay's fables between those two dates, though he is frequently included in anthologies of fables between those years. The illustrations here are small and octagonal. As might be assumed of a sixth edition, they are sometimes not as distinct as one might like. My first glimpse of a Gay illustration is usually the last fable in Part II, "The Ravens, the Sexton, and the Earth-worm." The sexton in this illustration is leaning on his shovel in an awkward position like those my physical therapist recommended for me in imitation of a pro football player! I see no trace of the earthworm in this illustration. The frontispiece may be the most engaging illustration in the book: a playful sprite or child lifts a triple mask off of the human face atop a monument. The mask features a lion, an eagle, and a fish. I am unsure of the interpretation one might best give this illustration. Comments on individual fables range from quite brief to quite long. The frontispiece page has come loose, and the book shows plenty of wear around its edges.

Identifier

en_US 11213 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/117086

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US London

Subject

en_US John Gay

en_US Title Page Scanned

Type

en_US Book, Whole