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Kalila and Dimna #2
Conflito e Intriga: Contos de Kalila e Dimna
Os contos deste livro descendem do mergulho ancestral da humanidade nas tradições orais, nos tempos em que o “era uma vez” provocava uma entrada absoluta em mundos imaginários de histórias. Manifestações selvagens de música primitiva (provavelmente de flauta ou tambor), vozes, sotaques, mímica, canções e danças suscitavam em pequenos grupos – naquele tempo e ainda hoje – um vívido sentido social de extra-dimensionalidade. Atualmente, a nossa tradição literária de contar histórias, mais moderada, linear e asséptica, que se desenvolveu ao longo dos últmos 2.500 anos, é codificada por meio de partituras ou da palavra escrita. Há uma enorme diferença entre ler silenciosamente uma peça de Shakespeare ou absorvê-la em meio ao rebuliço de uma apresentação no palco. Os contos de Kalila e Dimna são ouvidos desde tempos mais selvagens, próximos à nossa era de caçadores-coletores, antes da agricultura, quando animais, sombras e espíritos pairavam ao redor. Algumas de suas antigas histórias de animais foram primeiro transcritas e depois reformuladas por poetas, monges e acadêmicos em cinco línguas – os Contos de Jakata, em Pali (450 BC?); o Panchatantra, em Sânscrito (300 BC?); em Árabe (750 AD); Persa (1505 AD); e na versão em inglês de Sir Thomas North, de 1570 (publicada quando Shakespeare era apenas um moleque de seis anos). Dois dos primeiros manuscritos do Panchatantra academicamente “re-construídos” no século XIX (bastante diferentes um do outro) estão diretamente ligados à tradição oral da humanidade de contar histórias fisicamente. Somos tão atraídos por suas histórias quanto pelo desconhecido das pinturas rupestres em cavernas pré-históricas. Aqui há insondáveis mistérios! O romancista mexicano Carlos Fuentes observou, em 1980: “As histórias maravilhosas de Wood deveriam estar ao lado do reconto de Italo Calvino dos contos populares italianos. Nenhum outro elogio se faz necessário.”
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2011
38 people are currently reading
4826 people want to read
About the author
Ramsay Wood
10 books264 followersLondon Lecture VIDEO
Extraordinary Voyages of the Panchatantra https://ramsaywood.com/media/
Ramsay Wood is the author of two sui generis modern novels which aim — with inter-connected frame-story narratives — to capture the ancient (pre-literate) oral story-listening drama of multicultural animal fables mimed and declaimed along the Silk Road since the time of the Buddha.
His two books blend The Jatakas Tales, The Panchatantra and the brief (fourth century BCE) role of Alexander the Great's Hellenization legacy in "bringing the Aesopian tradition to North India and Central Asia".
Wood's Kalila and Dimna Vol 1 — Fables of Friendship and Betrayal was first published by Knopf in 1980 as Selected Fables of Bidpai with an Introduction by Doris Lessing (subsequently the 2007 Nobel Laureate).
His Kalila and Dimna Vol 2 — Fables of Conflict and Intrigue was first published by Medina in 2011,
Paperback versions of both titles remain available in Spanish and French locally or via his website. In English and other languages they exist in Kindle or 2nd-hand editions.
******
A Cat May Look at a King & eight other stories too tell your cat was first published as a hardback in 1984 by East-West Publications.
An updated Zirac Press edition (subtitled & SEVEN other stories to tell your cat ) — including one NEW tale and four fresh illustrations — was published (paperback & Kindle) in August 2023.
Extraordinary Voyages of the Panchatantra https://ramsaywood.com/media/
Ramsay Wood is the author of two sui generis modern novels which aim — with inter-connected frame-story narratives — to capture the ancient (pre-literate) oral story-listening drama of multicultural animal fables mimed and declaimed along the Silk Road since the time of the Buddha.
His two books blend The Jatakas Tales, The Panchatantra and the brief (fourth century BCE) role of Alexander the Great's Hellenization legacy in "bringing the Aesopian tradition to North India and Central Asia".
Wood's Kalila and Dimna Vol 1 — Fables of Friendship and Betrayal was first published by Knopf in 1980 as Selected Fables of Bidpai with an Introduction by Doris Lessing (subsequently the 2007 Nobel Laureate).
His Kalila and Dimna Vol 2 — Fables of Conflict and Intrigue was first published by Medina in 2011,
Paperback versions of both titles remain available in Spanish and French locally or via his website. In English and other languages they exist in Kindle or 2nd-hand editions.
******
A Cat May Look at a King & eight other stories too tell your cat was first published as a hardback in 1984 by East-West Publications.
An updated Zirac Press edition (subtitled & SEVEN other stories to tell your cat ) — including one NEW tale and four fresh illustrations — was published (paperback & Kindle) in August 2023.
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June 25, 2016I'm not rating my own book, for heaven's sake — that's a job for honest readers with time enough to record their + and/or - reactions. Yet I will mention that this #2 (2011) in my Kalila and Dimna series was harder to build than the first #1 (1980). That's why I had to wait a few decades to acquire enough skill and strength to tackle it :) Lazy too, me? Of course not!
August 15, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Great collection of fables from India, with two framing devices. One is a king and a storyteller, while the other is a monkey and a crocodile.
Different fables for children.
Great collection of fables from India, with two framing devices. One is a king and a storyteller, while the other is a monkey and a crocodile.
Different fables for children.
July 30, 2012
Ramsay Wood has spent 30 years reviving Kalila and Dimna,an all but forgotten treasure of world literature. His second installment is as edgy, playful, and thought-provoking as the first. This Eastern classic is the most translated book in the world after the Bible. And yet these marvelous tales have been too often dismissed as trivial and childish. Wood has produced the first modern retelling in over 400 years.
Quirky, violent, deceitful, all too human animals populate this second collection of familiar and unfamiliar fables. Ostensibly intended to educate princes and commoners in ways of world, it uncovers the harsh realities that lurk beneath our comfortable everyday subjectivity. It even includes stories about how to learn from the tales themselves.
Its tales within tales structure reflects the constant flow of events and thoughts in our lives. It’s easy to get lost and a shock to return to the frame tale, suddenly realizing what we’ve forgotten. It’s like imagining we’re awake when we’ve really been dreaming. Efforts to keep track of where we are and to hold these multilayered tales in our mental grip provide unparalleled opportunities to exercise our brains and allow meanings to reveal themselves in their own good time.
Wood concludes the book with two masterful essays. The first outlines the history of the tale and how this treasure trove of sophisticated teaching-stories posing as humble fables has so easily slipped over borders and been embraced by so many cultures.
The final essay was prompted by a challenge from a NASA Director to prove that story is a more effective medium for science outreach than technical writing. It details our limited conceptions of story together with an extended concept of its nature and value.
Highly recommended.
Quirky, violent, deceitful, all too human animals populate this second collection of familiar and unfamiliar fables. Ostensibly intended to educate princes and commoners in ways of world, it uncovers the harsh realities that lurk beneath our comfortable everyday subjectivity. It even includes stories about how to learn from the tales themselves.
Its tales within tales structure reflects the constant flow of events and thoughts in our lives. It’s easy to get lost and a shock to return to the frame tale, suddenly realizing what we’ve forgotten. It’s like imagining we’re awake when we’ve really been dreaming. Efforts to keep track of where we are and to hold these multilayered tales in our mental grip provide unparalleled opportunities to exercise our brains and allow meanings to reveal themselves in their own good time.
Wood concludes the book with two masterful essays. The first outlines the history of the tale and how this treasure trove of sophisticated teaching-stories posing as humble fables has so easily slipped over borders and been embraced by so many cultures.
The final essay was prompted by a challenge from a NASA Director to prove that story is a more effective medium for science outreach than technical writing. It details our limited conceptions of story together with an extended concept of its nature and value.
Highly recommended.
July 3, 2021
This presentation of the Kalila and Dimna fables is fun, easy to read, and includes a subtle modern flair. I first encountered the fables in an Arabic literature class in college and have been interested in them ever since. Overall, I enjoyed the first volume a bit more than the second, mostly because the first volume seems to feature more animal fables. That said, there are plenty of animal fables in this volume. Overall, a fun and interesting read.
September 3, 2021
Den första volymen av Woods översättningar var klart bättre. De uppdateringar som gjorts för att göra den kulturella kontexten genomlysligare för moderna läsare, försvårar förmågan att se budskapen, och blandar gränserna mellan saga och fabel för mycket. Mängden ramhistorier hade gjort Borges imponerad - normalnivån är 4 nivåer av fiktion.
Jag rekommenderar andra översättningar. Volym 1 av denna var dock utmärkt.
Jag rekommenderar andra översättningar. Volym 1 av denna var dock utmärkt.
January 9, 2025
Ja inte denna, men bokförlaget Alhambras utgåva på svenska!
En rolig bok, författad av Abdallah, son till den hopskrynklade, på 700talet.
Fint översatt av Lotty Berencreutz och med informativt företal av
Jan Hjärpe.
En rolig bok, författad av Abdallah, son till den hopskrynklade, på 700talet.
Fint översatt av Lotty Berencreutz och med informativt företal av
Jan Hjärpe.
October 16, 2014
Kalila & Dimna told by Ramsay Wood
Full of fun and drama, reflections, uncommon words like gadabouts, postprandial, lollygagging…, expressions and interesting information. During this second and much delightful reading I took it in a slow tempo and sucked on the candies as we say in Sweden. And I recommend that because there are so many niceties you can miss otherwise. These fables go way, way back in time, when they were oral stories told from generation to generation. Then they were written down by Buddhist monks, translated to many different languages, adapted to different cultures, published under different titles and eventually became one of the first printed books in Europe, there translated into 16 languages and became as spread and read as the Bible. The fantastic history about how these fables have followed us during the centuries one can read about in the Afterword. Now they are published again, in new clothing and Ramsay Wood tells the stories for us today with a tone that is his own, quaint and humoristic and modern but not too modern. This is the second of three planned books.
Entertainment was not the main intention with the fables but to educate and pass on knowledge and wisdom to the next generation and in the frame story (just like in A Thousand and One Nights) of Kalila and Dimna there is a cruel and ignorant king who is told these stories so that he can become a better and wiser regent. Read and ponder about Spackleface, Snaggletooth and his awful wife Madam Buttercup, about the Jackal, vegetarian and closest man to the King and the vile schemes against him. Or why not read and tell just like in the old days?
And do not miss the last part. In the appendix there is lot of interesting reading and many references to new science about the educational power of stories
Full of fun and drama, reflections, uncommon words like gadabouts, postprandial, lollygagging…, expressions and interesting information. During this second and much delightful reading I took it in a slow tempo and sucked on the candies as we say in Sweden. And I recommend that because there are so many niceties you can miss otherwise. These fables go way, way back in time, when they were oral stories told from generation to generation. Then they were written down by Buddhist monks, translated to many different languages, adapted to different cultures, published under different titles and eventually became one of the first printed books in Europe, there translated into 16 languages and became as spread and read as the Bible. The fantastic history about how these fables have followed us during the centuries one can read about in the Afterword. Now they are published again, in new clothing and Ramsay Wood tells the stories for us today with a tone that is his own, quaint and humoristic and modern but not too modern. This is the second of three planned books.
Entertainment was not the main intention with the fables but to educate and pass on knowledge and wisdom to the next generation and in the frame story (just like in A Thousand and One Nights) of Kalila and Dimna there is a cruel and ignorant king who is told these stories so that he can become a better and wiser regent. Read and ponder about Spackleface, Snaggletooth and his awful wife Madam Buttercup, about the Jackal, vegetarian and closest man to the King and the vile schemes against him. Or why not read and tell just like in the old days?
And do not miss the last part. In the appendix there is lot of interesting reading and many references to new science about the educational power of stories
August 5, 2018
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
I never read the first book, but fortunately wasn’t lost. There’s a very brief recap at the start, but the story (stories) overall are separate, even if the overall plot relies strongly on the event of the first book.
The very beginning offers some amazing information on oral tradition of fables. This book is a modern reconfiguration of two discourses of different fables, translated from Arabic, Sanskirt, and Persian. It seems that India is “the chief source of the world’s fable literature” and is why so many stories, myths, tales, etc. have even been developed.
That modernism is evident. While some parts, like the fact that males and females have been very similar throughout the ages, work well, some of the language is modern enough that it jolts me out of the ancient/historical feeling that otherwise permeates the book. I DO, however, like the real life quotes from various historical figures--or stories.
Many of the settings and the storytelling are reminiscent of what must have been typical or oral tradition, as seen in classics like those we read from Plato. It’s where jokes were embellished upon, discord was discussed and developed in public settings, and stories were conversations steeped in theoretical and philosophical argument.
And it's didactic in nature.
As a side note, I hate calling this a “book” because it is much more than that. It’s...about the elements of human nature (or really, sentient behavior, as animals are as much a part of sentience as humans are in these stories). It’s magic. It’s love and betrayal; life and death; forgiveness and vengeance. It is the sad truth that those in authority don’t always heed requests of others; that greed forces beings in extremely unpleasant situations. It is the soul of storytelling. There are stories within stories to keep a captive audience but all of separate--and yet, connected--morals.
The biggest theme that is thread among every main story though is the same: be happy with what you have when you have it. It’s basic and yet so difficult to follow.
I also came away with the fact that being a leader means knowing to ask for help. It is obvious this was a theme in the first installment as well.
The last story, about 74% in, things become a bit graphic and mature, especially in light of the fact that [young] teenage princes and princesses are hearing it.
The end is extremely abrupt which is jarring, disrupts the flow of everything, and shatters the setting.
The Afterword is great though. It provides a fairly in-depth history on the original /Panchatantra/ story, including applicable ideas and pedagogical strategies.
The Appendix offers some interesting and reflective insight on what a story actually is.
I never read the first book, but fortunately wasn’t lost. There’s a very brief recap at the start, but the story (stories) overall are separate, even if the overall plot relies strongly on the event of the first book.
The very beginning offers some amazing information on oral tradition of fables. This book is a modern reconfiguration of two discourses of different fables, translated from Arabic, Sanskirt, and Persian. It seems that India is “the chief source of the world’s fable literature” and is why so many stories, myths, tales, etc. have even been developed.
That modernism is evident. While some parts, like the fact that males and females have been very similar throughout the ages, work well, some of the language is modern enough that it jolts me out of the ancient/historical feeling that otherwise permeates the book. I DO, however, like the real life quotes from various historical figures--or stories.
Many of the settings and the storytelling are reminiscent of what must have been typical or oral tradition, as seen in classics like those we read from Plato. It’s where jokes were embellished upon, discord was discussed and developed in public settings, and stories were conversations steeped in theoretical and philosophical argument.
And it's didactic in nature.
As a side note, I hate calling this a “book” because it is much more than that. It’s...about the elements of human nature (or really, sentient behavior, as animals are as much a part of sentience as humans are in these stories). It’s magic. It’s love and betrayal; life and death; forgiveness and vengeance. It is the sad truth that those in authority don’t always heed requests of others; that greed forces beings in extremely unpleasant situations. It is the soul of storytelling. There are stories within stories to keep a captive audience but all of separate--and yet, connected--morals.
The biggest theme that is thread among every main story though is the same: be happy with what you have when you have it. It’s basic and yet so difficult to follow.
I also came away with the fact that being a leader means knowing to ask for help. It is obvious this was a theme in the first installment as well.
The last story, about 74% in, things become a bit graphic and mature, especially in light of the fact that [young] teenage princes and princesses are hearing it.
The end is extremely abrupt which is jarring, disrupts the flow of everything, and shatters the setting.
The Afterword is great though. It provides a fairly in-depth history on the original /Panchatantra/ story, including applicable ideas and pedagogical strategies.
The Appendix offers some interesting and reflective insight on what a story actually is.
June 11, 2024
Conflito e Intriga: Contos de Kalila e Dimna by Ramsay Wood is a compelling adaptation of the ancient fables from the Panchatantra, bringing timeless wisdom to a modern audience. The book explores themes of conflict, intrigue, and moral dilemmas through a series of interconnected stories featuring anthropomorphic animals.
Wood's retelling maintains the essence of the original tales while infusing them with contemporary relevance. The narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, making complex moral lessons accessible and entertaining. The characters, though animals, exhibit deeply human traits, allowing readers to easily relate to their struggles and triumphs.
The prose is clear and engaging, with a fluid storytelling style that captures the reader's attention. Each story stands on its own but also contributes to the overarching themes of the book, creating a cohesive and satisfying reading experience.
In summary, Conflito e Intriga: Contos de Kalila e Dimna is a beautifully crafted collection that offers both entertainment and wisdom. Ramsay Wood successfully bridges ancient fables with modern sensibilities, making it a valuable read for those interested in timeless stories and moral exploration.
Wood's retelling maintains the essence of the original tales while infusing them with contemporary relevance. The narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, making complex moral lessons accessible and entertaining. The characters, though animals, exhibit deeply human traits, allowing readers to easily relate to their struggles and triumphs.
The prose is clear and engaging, with a fluid storytelling style that captures the reader's attention. Each story stands on its own but also contributes to the overarching themes of the book, creating a cohesive and satisfying reading experience.
In summary, Conflito e Intriga: Contos de Kalila e Dimna is a beautifully crafted collection that offers both entertainment and wisdom. Ramsay Wood successfully bridges ancient fables with modern sensibilities, making it a valuable read for those interested in timeless stories and moral exploration.
July 5, 2022
I found this book in the basement and I decided to give it a shot. We do a unit on Aesop every year so I thought it would be nice to make some cross cultural connections since the fables from this book are from the Panchatantra. The stories have the same kind of Russian doll effect that Ovid's Metamorphoses or 1001 Nights have, namely that a character in one story becomes the narrator of the next one. It has a lot of the themes you would find in Aesop but in completely different situations. Eg. A good chunk of the stories are narrated by a man with a floating millstone perpetually grinding into his head.
My one qualm about the translation of the name of characters. The translator intermittently translated original names into English. Sometimes the name would refer back or reveal something about their personality in the originally language such as Snaggletooth the crocodile. Other times it didn't really do much such as Spakleface the monkey.
My one qualm about the translation of the name of characters. The translator intermittently translated original names into English. Sometimes the name would refer back or reveal something about their personality in the originally language such as Snaggletooth the crocodile. Other times it didn't really do much such as Spakleface the monkey.
September 12, 2025
Kalila ve Dimna, özellikle “hikaye içinde hikaye” kurgusuyla çok hoşuma gitti. Okurken bazen zorlayıcı kelimelerle karşılaştım ama bu da metnin derinliğini hissettirdi. Hem öğütler hem de anlatım tarzı sayesinde okuması keyifliydi. Genel olarak beğendim ve tavsiye ederim.
Kalila and Dimna especially impressed me with its “story within a story” structure. At times I came across challenging words, but that also added to the depth of the text. With both its moral lessons and narrative style, it was an enjoyable read overall. I liked it and would recommend it.
Kalila and Dimna especially impressed me with its “story within a story” structure. At times I came across challenging words, but that also added to the depth of the text. With both its moral lessons and narrative style, it was an enjoyable read overall. I liked it and would recommend it.
May 24, 2019
Fables and Morals
This was a collection of fables from India that I’ve been reading on and off and I did enjoy. It’s just not my general subject/genre of interest but it was unique with the characters struggles and similar in that Aesop’s Fables narrative structure. I really enjoyed the quotes and poetry throughout and the mixture of the animal element which created a colorful fantasy element as well as the narrative accounts extending into other stories.
This was a collection of fables from India that I’ve been reading on and off and I did enjoy. It’s just not my general subject/genre of interest but it was unique with the characters struggles and similar in that Aesop’s Fables narrative structure. I really enjoyed the quotes and poetry throughout and the mixture of the animal element which created a colorful fantasy element as well as the narrative accounts extending into other stories.
November 9, 2020
In his second wonderfully-written volume
(the first volume is Kalila and Dimna, Fables
of Friendship and Betrayal) Ramsay Wood
retells a portion of a very ancient group of
stories, and in doing so beguiles and
bewitches with his dazzling style, while
he continues a tradition of bringing these
age-old tales to yet a new era...our own.
(the first volume is Kalila and Dimna, Fables
of Friendship and Betrayal) Ramsay Wood
retells a portion of a very ancient group of
stories, and in doing so beguiles and
bewitches with his dazzling style, while
he continues a tradition of bringing these
age-old tales to yet a new era...our own.
June 1, 2022
Who doesn't love a good fable...
This book has a lot of history going back to the 8th Gregorian Century. (possibly Sanskrit text) All of the fables are filled with animal & bird characters. Each of the fables, relate to our everyday lives. If you have been reading Aesop's Fables, I highly recommend this book.
This book has a lot of history going back to the 8th Gregorian Century. (possibly Sanskrit text) All of the fables are filled with animal & bird characters. Each of the fables, relate to our everyday lives. If you have been reading Aesop's Fables, I highly recommend this book.
July 28, 2024
I received a copy of this book through a Good Reads giveaway.
I enjoyed the retelling of these classic stories built around morality and life lessons. The way the stories are nested within each other lends depth and a continuity despite the many tales being told. Would definitely recommend to readers who are a fan of classic stories and their retelling.
I enjoyed the retelling of these classic stories built around morality and life lessons. The way the stories are nested within each other lends depth and a continuity despite the many tales being told. Would definitely recommend to readers who are a fan of classic stories and their retelling.
August 4, 2018
This book was like a combination of fairy tales and zen stories of enlightenment. The illustrations in the book were wonderful and the stories were just as engaging for me as an adult. The stories have a simplistic harmony that transcends culture to stick with you. This is a good read.
Mr. Joe
Mr. Joe
July 16, 2018
Goodreads giveaway
July 28, 2018
Throughly enjoyed this book
April 29, 2021
Good book of fable
This is a good book of fables. I didn't even know The is existed. It's good to see other stories from other cultures to.
This is a good book of fables. I didn't even know The is existed. It's good to see other stories from other cultures to.
June 12, 2022
The telling of the fables was great as was each individual fable. It got a bit muddled because at times it was a fable within a fable.
June 21, 2022
I love short stories, but haven't read any fables since school. This took me back, and I don't know why I ever stopped reading fables! Looking forward to more!
June 22, 2024
I love Indian culture and this book of fables did not disappoint. Thanks for this copy. Now I’m going to look for the first one.
July 1, 2024
A fun little book of fables in nesting doll format
#GoodreadsGiveaway
#GoodreadsGiveaway
June 9, 2021
Really super love these nesting doll stories! I won it and I am thankful to Goodreads for introducing me to this author.
July 4, 2016
Jujur, buku ini saya beli karena judulnya mengandung kata "FABEL" dan ada ilustrasi gajah berkelahi dengan singa. Ukuran bukunya yang ga beda jauh sama novel sama sekali ga bikin saya curiga kalau buku ini polos, tanpa ilustrasi sama sekali.
Pembahasan teknis yang lain, font-nya berukuran normal sehingga otomatis buku ini hanya dapat dibacakan kepada anak-anak bukan dibaca bersama.
Dari segi cerita, buku ini banyak mengisahkan cerita dalam cerita. Misalnya di kisah A1 yang mengisahkan kodok dan buaya, di dalamnya si kodok bercerita tentang kisah A1a tentang jakal dan monyet yang... mungkin saja salah satunya menceritakan kisah lain. Semacam nested story-lah. Dan kebetulan, saya kurang suka gaya bertutur seperti ini. Nilai yang terkandung di tiap cerita itu terkadang terlalu berat bagi saya sehingga agak sulit dicerna, terutama hubungan antar ceritanya (maksud saya.. apa hubungan cerita A1a dengan kondisi si kodok dan si buaya?). Dan tidak semua cerita yang tersaji berupa fabel (kisah tentang binatang) bahkan di kisah terakhir terkesan agak vulgar (IMO)
Saya sangat menghargai usaha Mr. Wood untuk mengumpulkan dongeng klasik ini, diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Inggris (sampai akhirnya diterjemahkan EMK ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia). Tapi sepertinya.. not my cup of book
2/5 saja ^^;
Pembahasan teknis yang lain, font-nya berukuran normal sehingga otomatis buku ini hanya dapat dibacakan kepada anak-anak bukan dibaca bersama.
Dari segi cerita, buku ini banyak mengisahkan cerita dalam cerita. Misalnya di kisah A1 yang mengisahkan kodok dan buaya, di dalamnya si kodok bercerita tentang kisah A1a tentang jakal dan monyet yang... mungkin saja salah satunya menceritakan kisah lain. Semacam nested story-lah. Dan kebetulan, saya kurang suka gaya bertutur seperti ini. Nilai yang terkandung di tiap cerita itu terkadang terlalu berat bagi saya sehingga agak sulit dicerna, terutama hubungan antar ceritanya (maksud saya.. apa hubungan cerita A1a dengan kondisi si kodok dan si buaya?). Dan tidak semua cerita yang tersaji berupa fabel (kisah tentang binatang) bahkan di kisah terakhir terkesan agak vulgar (IMO)
Saya sangat menghargai usaha Mr. Wood untuk mengumpulkan dongeng klasik ini, diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Inggris (sampai akhirnya diterjemahkan EMK ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia). Tapi sepertinya.. not my cup of book
2/5 saja ^^;
December 15, 2016
Dapat buku versi bahasa indonesianya di obralan toko buku. Saya akui buku ini adalah karya memukau yang dieksekusi dengan baik. Yang paling saya sayangkan, adalah terjemahan bahasa Indonesia yang terburu-buru dan tak cermat. Ramsay Wood butuh 30 tahun untuk menyempurnakan buku ini, sementara terjemahan bahasa Indonesianya paling dirampungkan dalam 30 hari. Ada salah ketik, nama yang belum dialihkan ke bahasa Indonesia, serta pemilihan kata yang ala kadarnya.
Versi aslinya pasti sangat menarik. Sebab dongeng asli India ini telah diubah sedemikian rupa sehingga konteks bahasanya dapat dipahami orang modern. Substansinya tetap. Seperti membaca cerita ala barat, bukan cerita khas India.
Dari kontennya, banyak cerita menarik. Pembawaannya seperti kisah 1001 malam. Sebuah kisah diceritakan, kemudian di dalamnya ada kisah lagi. Penceritaan rekursif umumnya soal fabel dan kisah klasik. Mungkin cerita inilah cikal bakal rentetan kisah kancil di Indonesia.
Secara keseluruhan, buku ini menarik. Bisa jadi inspirasi untuk mendongeng ke anak kecil. Hanya kualitas terjemahannya mengecewakan. Jadi, 3 bintang.
Versi aslinya pasti sangat menarik. Sebab dongeng asli India ini telah diubah sedemikian rupa sehingga konteks bahasanya dapat dipahami orang modern. Substansinya tetap. Seperti membaca cerita ala barat, bukan cerita khas India.
Dari kontennya, banyak cerita menarik. Pembawaannya seperti kisah 1001 malam. Sebuah kisah diceritakan, kemudian di dalamnya ada kisah lagi. Penceritaan rekursif umumnya soal fabel dan kisah klasik. Mungkin cerita inilah cikal bakal rentetan kisah kancil di Indonesia.
Secara keseluruhan, buku ini menarik. Bisa jadi inspirasi untuk mendongeng ke anak kecil. Hanya kualitas terjemahannya mengecewakan. Jadi, 3 bintang.
February 11, 2014
Walaupun sebuah fabel yakni dongeng yang diutarakan oleh hewan bukan berarti ini sebuah bacaan ringan, kata-kata yang puitis dan nyaris seperti syair bikin dahi sedikit mengeriyit. Belum lagi plotnya yang dasyat yakni cerita di dalam cerita seperti film inception.
Secara garis besar dongeng dengan tingkat sastra tinggi ini bercerita tentang bagaimana dunia fabel berisikan hewan-hewan menyelesaikan masalah dunia. Seluruh cerita bijaknya seperti petuah yang lama tidak terdengar.
Secara garis besar dongeng dengan tingkat sastra tinggi ini bercerita tentang bagaimana dunia fabel berisikan hewan-hewan menyelesaikan masalah dunia. Seluruh cerita bijaknya seperti petuah yang lama tidak terdengar.
December 12, 2014
A much awaited sequel - reads better than volume one and I found that the stories provided some much needed food for thought.
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