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Kalila and Dimna #1 - Fables of Friendship and Betrayal
Once upon a time a powerful young king called Dabschelim ruled over India. One day he came upon a hidden treasure from a long-dead king. With it was a letter addressed to him. How had the letter come to be there? And what did it mean?
To solve the mystery, Dabschelim summoned the wisest man in his kingdom, Dr Bidpai, to his side. And so began the tales of Kalila and Dimna... In all the storytelling collections from India, it is the secular animal fables found in the The Pancatantra and its Buddhist inspiration, The Jataka Tales, that have travelled the furthest and influenced world literature the most.
These stories spawned equally famous classics in both Arabic and Persian - indeed the oldest surviving manuscript of The Pancatantra stories is Kalila and Dimna, an Arabic derivative of the lost Sanskrit original. From the Persian and Arab world, these fables migrated to Europe and by the 16th century existed in Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, French and English versions. Even Aesop includes a few in his famous collection.
Ramsay Wood鈥檚 delightful retelling of The Pancatantra not only modernises the ancient fables but uses all the main versions from the Sanskrit to the Persian and Arabic and even the early English. Written with great colour, style and panache, and beautifully illustrated, it makes the perfect introduction to a global Indian classic.
To solve the mystery, Dabschelim summoned the wisest man in his kingdom, Dr Bidpai, to his side. And so began the tales of Kalila and Dimna... In all the storytelling collections from India, it is the secular animal fables found in the The Pancatantra and its Buddhist inspiration, The Jataka Tales, that have travelled the furthest and influenced world literature the most.
These stories spawned equally famous classics in both Arabic and Persian - indeed the oldest surviving manuscript of The Pancatantra stories is Kalila and Dimna, an Arabic derivative of the lost Sanskrit original. From the Persian and Arab world, these fables migrated to Europe and by the 16th century existed in Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, French and English versions. Even Aesop includes a few in his famous collection.
Ramsay Wood鈥檚 delightful retelling of The Pancatantra not only modernises the ancient fables but uses all the main versions from the Sanskrit to the Persian and Arabic and even the early English. Written with great colour, style and panache, and beautifully illustrated, it makes the perfect introduction to a global Indian classic.
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 300
92 people are currently reading
8038 people want to read
About the author
Ramsay Wood
9听books266听followersLondon Lecture VIDEO
Extraordinary Voyages of the Panchatantra
Ramsay Wood is the author of two sui generis modern novels which aim 鈥� with inter-connected frame-story narratives 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 ) 鈥� including one NEW tale and four fresh illustrations 鈥� was published (paperback & Kindle) in August 2023.
Extraordinary Voyages of the Panchatantra
Ramsay Wood is the author of two sui generis modern novels which aim 鈥� with inter-connected frame-story narratives 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 ) 鈥� including one NEW tale and four fresh illustrations 鈥� was published (paperback & Kindle) in August 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 15, 2016
When translating a work whose origins are obscure and dissipated, the usual problem of preserving the tone and timbre of the original is much lessened. Ramsay Wood has taken advantage of this agreeable situation to render the ancient and beloved tales of Dr Bidpai (鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥�) in a light, informal, contemporary style accessible to young and delightful to all readers.
Warnings are built into the stories to remind us not to take them too literally, and the morals are often quite obscure or obliquely rendered. This helps to overcome the difficulty that every situation has unique aspects & has to be tackled accordingly, so tales prescribing universal principles are of limited use (and everyone, especially the British, hates being told what to do) Here there is no necessity to read in search of wise guidance 鈥� you can simply enjoy the zany happenings and personalities.
An idiosyncracy of the tales is their chattiness. Dialogues drives the action and are full of demonstrative formalities. There is a sense of deep respect for the spoken word that is foreign to the present age of my faithless culture which has lost the art of conversation.
The book is sublimely presented with small quotes from diverse sources deliciously adorning the margins here and there, while the lovely drawings give the stories an appropriate sense of context. The beauty of the design, especially the fonts, reflects the sensibilities (rather than being recognizable as in-the-style-of) Arabic art, as might be expected from the publisher, the wonderful Al Saqi bookshop, which is close to one of my favourite cafes here in London...
Warnings are built into the stories to remind us not to take them too literally, and the morals are often quite obscure or obliquely rendered. This helps to overcome the difficulty that every situation has unique aspects & has to be tackled accordingly, so tales prescribing universal principles are of limited use (and everyone, especially the British, hates being told what to do) Here there is no necessity to read in search of wise guidance 鈥� you can simply enjoy the zany happenings and personalities.
An idiosyncracy of the tales is their chattiness. Dialogues drives the action and are full of demonstrative formalities. There is a sense of deep respect for the spoken word that is foreign to the present age of my faithless culture which has lost the art of conversation.
The book is sublimely presented with small quotes from diverse sources deliciously adorning the margins here and there, while the lovely drawings give the stories an appropriate sense of context. The beauty of the design, especially the fonts, reflects the sensibilities (rather than being recognizable as in-the-style-of) Arabic art, as might be expected from the publisher, the wonderful Al Saqi bookshop, which is close to one of my favourite cafes here in London...
April 3, 2016
Everyone is familiar with Aesop鈥檚 Fables or even Uncle Ramos. Yet, these tales aren鈥檛 the most famous and are actually based on already-existing fables: those of Bidpai. The Fables of Bidpai date back to 200 B.C. and are some of the most-translated stories known to man. Oddly, translations in English ceased in 1881. Ramsay Wood retells these fables for Western readers in, 鈥淜alilia and Dimna: Selected Fables of Bidpai鈥�.
The Fables of Bidpai have Eastern roots (many are formally recorded in Sanskirt) and focus on a variety of topics, offering lessons in proper living. Wood collects and retells tales centered on friendship, jealousy, betrayal, devotion, and the like in 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� streamlining the messages/lessons making it accessible for the reader. Wood鈥檚 prose is elegant and classy but also has a modern familiar tone (and jargon) adding to the ease of reading and heightening the pace.
鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� is told in a traditional Eastern way building a web of stories in which the main character (storyteller) Dr. Bidpai is telling the tale of 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� to King Dabschelim while Kalila and Dimna (brother jackals) tell stories within the story in which the characters also tell stories. It sounds like layers can become confusing to the reader but it is actually quite easy to keep track of.
The remarkable aspect of 鈥淜alilia and Dimna鈥� is its relevance to modern day even being conceived over a thousand years ago. Not to mention, the text will truly make the reader contemplate the manners and respect which has dwindled in human interactions over time. Not only are the fables in 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� entertaining and well-written; but they are also deep and educational making the text doubly worth reading. 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� simply possess a special spark which makes it stand out and can be compared to classic lit texts.
Also notable is how relatable and emotionally captivating all of the characters are (even those in stories within stories). The reader genuinely 鈥榝eels鈥� for everyone mentioned in the text, investing in each plot. Therefore, 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� reads more like a short novella than simply separate fables.
The second section (鈥淶irac and Friends鈥�) is not as poignant as the former section of the book and is especially noticeable in it weakness after a strong climax at the end of 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� (the first section). Despite this, the plot is still strong in its lesson and reads well.
The conclusion of the text is a cliff hanger in the realm of the reader wanting more tales but Bidpai mentioning that more stories are for another time after letting these current ones sink in. Wood therefore does well enticing the reader to read his second book of Bidpai鈥檚 fables.
Overall, 鈥淜alila and Bidpai鈥� is a very special book and collection of fables encompassing magic that simply can鈥檛 be described (no wonder it has been passed on for so many centuries). 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� is simply wonderful and recommended for young adult readers on up who enjoy fables with depth which are recanted like a short story.
The Fables of Bidpai have Eastern roots (many are formally recorded in Sanskirt) and focus on a variety of topics, offering lessons in proper living. Wood collects and retells tales centered on friendship, jealousy, betrayal, devotion, and the like in 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� streamlining the messages/lessons making it accessible for the reader. Wood鈥檚 prose is elegant and classy but also has a modern familiar tone (and jargon) adding to the ease of reading and heightening the pace.
鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� is told in a traditional Eastern way building a web of stories in which the main character (storyteller) Dr. Bidpai is telling the tale of 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� to King Dabschelim while Kalila and Dimna (brother jackals) tell stories within the story in which the characters also tell stories. It sounds like layers can become confusing to the reader but it is actually quite easy to keep track of.
The remarkable aspect of 鈥淜alilia and Dimna鈥� is its relevance to modern day even being conceived over a thousand years ago. Not to mention, the text will truly make the reader contemplate the manners and respect which has dwindled in human interactions over time. Not only are the fables in 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� entertaining and well-written; but they are also deep and educational making the text doubly worth reading. 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� simply possess a special spark which makes it stand out and can be compared to classic lit texts.
Also notable is how relatable and emotionally captivating all of the characters are (even those in stories within stories). The reader genuinely 鈥榝eels鈥� for everyone mentioned in the text, investing in each plot. Therefore, 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� reads more like a short novella than simply separate fables.
The second section (鈥淶irac and Friends鈥�) is not as poignant as the former section of the book and is especially noticeable in it weakness after a strong climax at the end of 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� (the first section). Despite this, the plot is still strong in its lesson and reads well.
The conclusion of the text is a cliff hanger in the realm of the reader wanting more tales but Bidpai mentioning that more stories are for another time after letting these current ones sink in. Wood therefore does well enticing the reader to read his second book of Bidpai鈥檚 fables.
Overall, 鈥淜alila and Bidpai鈥� is a very special book and collection of fables encompassing magic that simply can鈥檛 be described (no wonder it has been passed on for so many centuries). 鈥淜alila and Dimna鈥� is simply wonderful and recommended for young adult readers on up who enjoy fables with depth which are recanted like a short story.
December 9, 2017
These books feel so very startingly modern. But not in that jarring, what-is-the-translator-trying-here way, but in the sense of feeling connected to some fundamentals of humanity through millennia. Much less atomised than the Aesops Fables derivatives I was familiar with, these characters argue and roll their metaphorical eyes at each other, battling for perspective and some kind of way to live life, using story to understand experience, more than as simple metaphor.
The stories are very nested: testing modern memories, used to relying on written words, and now omnipresent internet, rather than the discipline of oral-based societal memory making. The nested nature is a wonderful commentary itself on the power of storytelling, drawing the reader in to a process as a new layer, adding to the various existing layers. For the characters in Kalila and Dimna the fourth wall is more of a window, they exist in a world where all experience is a story, that will be retold and examined as necessary by various audiences. An audience for this week, including an audience of children, will feel themselves to be part of this continuum, their own experiences worth examining and thinking about.
This was perhaps the most surprising aspect of the book for me, that it was less a series of lessons, and more an approach to an examined life. The characters solve dilemmas by listening to experiences and then debating, and applying, what that means for them. Kalila and Dimna themselves, for example, differ greatly in their conclusions from their own choices of stories and what they mean. We see the evil that comes from Dimna's approach, but also the self-gain, and the emotional peace, but perhaps naivety of Kalila's approach. The reader can make up their own mind about conclusions to much of this, but the process, of thinking it through, is the point.
Loved the translation, which clearly went for modern examples without being over the top or referencing pop culture, but also didn't heavily remind you that this was based in millenia ago or make an audience look up what a caravanserai was etc.. Obviously, not a scholarly edition, but one designed to transmit culture in a way that fits the popular audience for this.
Just one strong criticism of the edition: the choice to feature quotes relating to views of Kalila and Dimna, and the culture that produced it to start chapters needed some context. The fact that several of the quotes featured were racist, Islamaphobic or just stupid, may have relied on the audience's intelligence to reject, but was just distracting and mildly infuriating. I'm guessing the author's wanted to make a comment about our changing perceptions, but instead it just came across as trivialising the whole.
The stories are very nested: testing modern memories, used to relying on written words, and now omnipresent internet, rather than the discipline of oral-based societal memory making. The nested nature is a wonderful commentary itself on the power of storytelling, drawing the reader in to a process as a new layer, adding to the various existing layers. For the characters in Kalila and Dimna the fourth wall is more of a window, they exist in a world where all experience is a story, that will be retold and examined as necessary by various audiences. An audience for this week, including an audience of children, will feel themselves to be part of this continuum, their own experiences worth examining and thinking about.
This was perhaps the most surprising aspect of the book for me, that it was less a series of lessons, and more an approach to an examined life. The characters solve dilemmas by listening to experiences and then debating, and applying, what that means for them. Kalila and Dimna themselves, for example, differ greatly in their conclusions from their own choices of stories and what they mean. We see the evil that comes from Dimna's approach, but also the self-gain, and the emotional peace, but perhaps naivety of Kalila's approach. The reader can make up their own mind about conclusions to much of this, but the process, of thinking it through, is the point.
Loved the translation, which clearly went for modern examples without being over the top or referencing pop culture, but also didn't heavily remind you that this was based in millenia ago or make an audience look up what a caravanserai was etc.. Obviously, not a scholarly edition, but one designed to transmit culture in a way that fits the popular audience for this.
Just one strong criticism of the edition: the choice to feature quotes relating to views of Kalila and Dimna, and the culture that produced it to start chapters needed some context. The fact that several of the quotes featured were racist, Islamaphobic or just stupid, may have relied on the audience's intelligence to reject, but was just distracting and mildly infuriating. I'm guessing the author's wanted to make a comment about our changing perceptions, but instead it just came across as trivialising the whole.
January 3, 2016
I used to read Aesop's Fables again and again when I was a kid, but I didn't know that I still love fables now.
"Kalila and Dimna" has a lot of fables but it's not just an anthology. The characters are storytellers. This is one of my favorite points of this book.
All stories were entertaining and fun to read. When I was so busy that I didn't have enough time to read it, I was dying to pick up the book. I would make my younger brother read "Chitchat Turtle and the Geese" if he could understand English... Lol
"Kalila and Dimna" has a lot of fables but it's not just an anthology. The characters are storytellers. This is one of my favorite points of this book.
All stories were entertaining and fun to read. When I was so busy that I didn't have enough time to read it, I was dying to pick up the book. I would make my younger brother read "Chitchat Turtle and the Geese" if he could understand English... Lol
February 20, 2018
In the old-fashioned tradition of storytelling, Kalila and Dimna cloak sly morals in the trappings of children鈥檚 stories, with animals taking the place of their human counterparts. Aesop clearly based his fables on a lot of these stories (and one or two seem very familiar). While these tales do meander on, with some of the creatures stopping their own story to tell another, they always come back to the main point. Rich in local color and detail, their ethical lessons are easy to swallow and yet have valid points, even applicable to modern-day problems.
I found these stories deeply affecting and managed to finish them in a very short time. In spite of their nature, they don鈥檛 come off as puerile or mere stories for children. As the wise man stated to the king in the end, these stories are medicine and need to work a while on the listener. Thus, they work best over time and are worth coming back to whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation.
I found these stories deeply affecting and managed to finish them in a very short time. In spite of their nature, they don鈥檛 come off as puerile or mere stories for children. As the wise man stated to the king in the end, these stories are medicine and need to work a while on the listener. Thus, they work best over time and are worth coming back to whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation.
Currently reading
April 19, 2021I was very excited to get an arc of this book BUT didn鈥檛 realize it鈥檚 in German. Argh. I am so curious about this book that I may buy in English.
Want to read
July 15, 2024This will be a slow read for me, because it's published in my second language. Still, I've been intrigued by the Kalila wa Dimna ever since Ramsay Wood's translation first came out in English back in the 80s -- with a foreword by Doris Lessing, no less.
September 21, 2017
Kalila y Dimna fue traducida por primera vez del 谩rabe al espa帽ol en el siglo XIII por orden del rey Alfonso X el Sabio.
Estas f谩bulas protagonizadas por animales han inspirado a autores tan diversos como Esopo, Llull o Chaucer, por citar algunos, y sus valores siguen vigentes en el siglo XXI.
Los cuentos est谩n narrados como la estructura de una mu帽eca rusa: un relato principal da lugar a otros muchos que los personajes se van contando entre s铆.
Las f谩bulas nos dan grandes consejos muy 煤tiles y tambi茅n nos obligan a preguntarnos por qu茅 actuamos de una u otra manera en determinadas situaciones. 驴Qu茅 nos mueve realmente en la toma de decisiones?
Buena parte de los cuentos giran en torno a la amistad. No en vano, nada de lo que poseemos tiene valor sin una amigo como nos cuenta Zirac, el sabio rat贸n protagonista de uno de los ciclos de f谩bulas.
Tambi茅n tratan muchos otros temas como la envidia, la avaricia, la deslealtad, la venganza鈥� Todos ellos narrados de una forma amena a trav茅s de personajes muy singulares como los chacales Kalila y Dimna, el mono Carayeso o el cocodrilo Dientestorcidos.
Kalila y Dimna y otras f谩bulas del Panchatantra re煤ne las revisiones de Ramsay Wood a un lenguaje moderno y ameno tanto de 鈥淜alila y Dimna, f谩bulas selectas de Bidpai鈥� como de 鈥淜alila y Dimna, f谩bulas de conflicto e intriga鈥�.
Una edici贸n muy cuidada, con bonitas ilustraciones en blanco y negro y citas c茅lebres que acompa帽an a cada cuento para viajar a lejanos rincones del mundo y apreciar no s贸lo las historias sino tambi茅n el antiguo arte de la narraci贸n oral.
Un libro magn铆fico para disfrutar y leer en m谩s de una ocasi贸n. Kalila y Dimna, dos hermanos chacales, comienzan este ciclo de f谩bulas que nos sumergir谩n en un mundo m谩gico lleno de peligros amigos y decisiones que cambiar谩n, para bien o para mal, el destino de los protagonistas.
Rese帽a realizada en exclusiva para Anika Entre Libros.
Estas f谩bulas protagonizadas por animales han inspirado a autores tan diversos como Esopo, Llull o Chaucer, por citar algunos, y sus valores siguen vigentes en el siglo XXI.
Los cuentos est谩n narrados como la estructura de una mu帽eca rusa: un relato principal da lugar a otros muchos que los personajes se van contando entre s铆.
Las f谩bulas nos dan grandes consejos muy 煤tiles y tambi茅n nos obligan a preguntarnos por qu茅 actuamos de una u otra manera en determinadas situaciones. 驴Qu茅 nos mueve realmente en la toma de decisiones?
Buena parte de los cuentos giran en torno a la amistad. No en vano, nada de lo que poseemos tiene valor sin una amigo como nos cuenta Zirac, el sabio rat贸n protagonista de uno de los ciclos de f谩bulas.
Tambi茅n tratan muchos otros temas como la envidia, la avaricia, la deslealtad, la venganza鈥� Todos ellos narrados de una forma amena a trav茅s de personajes muy singulares como los chacales Kalila y Dimna, el mono Carayeso o el cocodrilo Dientestorcidos.
Kalila y Dimna y otras f谩bulas del Panchatantra re煤ne las revisiones de Ramsay Wood a un lenguaje moderno y ameno tanto de 鈥淜alila y Dimna, f谩bulas selectas de Bidpai鈥� como de 鈥淜alila y Dimna, f谩bulas de conflicto e intriga鈥�.
Una edici贸n muy cuidada, con bonitas ilustraciones en blanco y negro y citas c茅lebres que acompa帽an a cada cuento para viajar a lejanos rincones del mundo y apreciar no s贸lo las historias sino tambi茅n el antiguo arte de la narraci贸n oral.
Un libro magn铆fico para disfrutar y leer en m谩s de una ocasi贸n. Kalila y Dimna, dos hermanos chacales, comienzan este ciclo de f谩bulas que nos sumergir谩n en un mundo m谩gico lleno de peligros amigos y decisiones que cambiar谩n, para bien o para mal, el destino de los protagonistas.
Rese帽a realizada en exclusiva para Anika Entre Libros.
May 29, 2017
Prima de "Le mille e una notte", prima delle favole di Esopo e La Fontaine, c'erano le fiabe di Bidpai. Fiabe di tradizione orale le cui origini si perdono nel tempo, e la cui circolazione ha influenzato autori e testi oggi pi霉 famosi, come quelli citati, e di cui in passato son state fatte innumerevoli traduzioni.
Ma di che si tratta? Le storie sono a matrioska, come ne "Le mille e una notte": il dottor Bidpai, stanco della tirannia del re Dabschelim, si presenta a corte per aprirgli gli occhi, e, dopo qualche settimana in cella, finir脿 per raccontare al sovrano delle storie che illustrano i principi del buon governo. La prima storia 猫 quella dei due fratelli sciacalli Kalila e Dimna, entrambi servitori alla corte del re leone. Dimna a un certo punto si far脿 prendere dall'ambizione, e il fratello cercher脿 di farlo tornare in s茅 raccontandogli a sua volta delle storie, le quali potrebbero a loro volta contenerne altre...
Storie brevi, dalla facile morale, antiche, ma sempre attuali, originali, ma anche famigliari, che trasmettono quel po' di saggezza di cui ogni tanto abbiamo bisogno.
Ma di che si tratta? Le storie sono a matrioska, come ne "Le mille e una notte": il dottor Bidpai, stanco della tirannia del re Dabschelim, si presenta a corte per aprirgli gli occhi, e, dopo qualche settimana in cella, finir脿 per raccontare al sovrano delle storie che illustrano i principi del buon governo. La prima storia 猫 quella dei due fratelli sciacalli Kalila e Dimna, entrambi servitori alla corte del re leone. Dimna a un certo punto si far脿 prendere dall'ambizione, e il fratello cercher脿 di farlo tornare in s茅 raccontandogli a sua volta delle storie, le quali potrebbero a loro volta contenerne altre...
Storie brevi, dalla facile morale, antiche, ma sempre attuali, originali, ma anche famigliari, che trasmettono quel po' di saggezza di cui ogni tanto abbiamo bisogno.
December 12, 2014
I thought Kalila and Dimna was very well written and the fables were entertaining, yet rich in knowledge and abstract policy advising. However, the most fascinating feature of the book was in my opinion how the author narrates stories within stories. One fable takes you into another story, and sometimes that story takes you even deeper into another fable, until they are all told and the reader is drawn back into the original tale.
Wood's use of this very interesting literal tool keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book. I cannot wait to read volume 2.
Wood's use of this very interesting literal tool keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book. I cannot wait to read volume 2.
April 22, 2015
Kalila and Dimna is written in the great tradition of Arabians Nights and all the fables are well thought and give a great lesson about friendship and especially betrayal. This is a great book for middle school or high school and teaches kids what they can expect later in life so they will not get tricked by bad people. The illustrations are meaningful to the stories and I also liked the famous quotes at the edge of the page. Great book and a must read!
April 17, 2018
I've read the Arabic version a while ago, but I came across this version and decided to read the introduction by Dorris Lessing and compare the stories to the classic version I've read. The book is definitely fascinating in whatever version or language it is written!
May 21, 2023
Ramsay Wood has produced an excellent translation of these ancient fables. It's easy to read and engaging while still feeling true to the original. I first encountered them in my Arabic literature class in college. I look forward to reading more volumes of Wood's translation once I can find them!
February 1, 2017
I didn't know they were translating these stories!! I heard them from my grandmother when I was little
August 22, 2024
classic
Classic fables that most should be familiar with. Perfect for the whole family to read. Check it out if you get the chance I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l find something interesting!
Classic fables that most should be familiar with. Perfect for the whole family to read. Check it out if you get the chance I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l find something interesting!
July 25, 2024
"Kalila y Dimna y otras f谩bulas del Panchatantra" de Ramsay Wood ofrece una perspectiva 煤nica sobre la cl谩sica colecci贸n de antiguas f谩bulas del Panchatantra. Las historias, conocidas por su sabidur铆a intemporal y lecciones morales, se presentan de una manera que mezcla narrativas tradicionales con las propias interpretaciones y comentarios de Wood.
El libro est谩 bien investigado, y el amplio conocimiento de Wood sobre el material original es evidente. Las f谩bulas son atractivas y proporcionan valiosas ideas sobre el comportamiento humano y la 茅tica, lo que las hace relevantes incluso en el contexto actual. La inclusi贸n de ilustraciones a帽ade un atractivo extra, mejorando la experiencia del lector.
Sin embargo, algunos lectores pueden encontrar que el estilo narrativo y las interpretaciones de Wood se apartan del tono e intenci贸n originales de los textos antiguos. Si bien este enfoque moderno hace que las historias sean accesibles a un p煤blico m谩s amplio, puede que no resuene con los puristas que prefieren una narraci贸n m谩s tradicional.
En general, "Kalila y Dimna y otras f谩bulas del Panchatantra" de Ramsay Wood es un esfuerzo encomiable para acercar estas historias ancestrales a los lectores contempor谩neos. Sirve como un puente entre lo antiguo y lo moderno, ofreciendo una perspectiva fresca sobre la sabidur铆a cl谩sica.
El libro est谩 bien investigado, y el amplio conocimiento de Wood sobre el material original es evidente. Las f谩bulas son atractivas y proporcionan valiosas ideas sobre el comportamiento humano y la 茅tica, lo que las hace relevantes incluso en el contexto actual. La inclusi贸n de ilustraciones a帽ade un atractivo extra, mejorando la experiencia del lector.
Sin embargo, algunos lectores pueden encontrar que el estilo narrativo y las interpretaciones de Wood se apartan del tono e intenci贸n originales de los textos antiguos. Si bien este enfoque moderno hace que las historias sean accesibles a un p煤blico m谩s amplio, puede que no resuene con los puristas que prefieren una narraci贸n m谩s tradicional.
En general, "Kalila y Dimna y otras f谩bulas del Panchatantra" de Ramsay Wood es un esfuerzo encomiable para acercar estas historias ancestrales a los lectores contempor谩neos. Sirve como un puente entre lo antiguo y lo moderno, ofreciendo una perspectiva fresca sobre la sabidur铆a cl谩sica.
June 3, 2024
Kalila e Dimna, Vol. 1 by Ramsay Wood is a masterful rendition of ancient fables, seamlessly blending timeless wisdom with modern narrative flair. Wood's storytelling is captivating, bringing to life the wit and wisdom of these classic tales. Each story is rich with moral insight, engaging readers with its clever plots and memorable characters. This book is not just a collection of fables; it is a profound exploration of human nature and the complexities of life, making it a must-read for both young and adult audiences alike. Truly, a literary gem that enlightens as it entertains.
February 25, 2025
I won this in a giveaway. I entered said giveaway because I thought the cover was nice; I did not read the summary at the time.
It was alright. I like fables and legends, and myths, and so on. I think the way it was written is what made it a little meh for me. I guess it makes sense that the writing is a little sloppy; it鈥檚 a translation and sometimes, well, the writing is as I just said.
It was alright. I like fables and legends, and myths, and so on. I think the way it was written is what made it a little meh for me. I guess it makes sense that the writing is a little sloppy; it鈥檚 a translation and sometimes, well, the writing is as I just said.
July 12, 2024
This is a phenomenal story and well written. I read it and shared it with my Spanish speaking friends who also enjoyed it. I was reminded of how rusting my Spanish reading is but I did love the novel!
January 15, 2022
Except for the part that I am not really into books of this style, It is a very good book
March 13, 2024
Definitely the Best!!!
April 5, 2024
I am working to improve my Spanish, which is why I wanted this book. I am still reading it, but so far I am learning new vocabulary and really enjoying the stories.
May 6, 2024
First Reads Winner
Wow! I loved it!
Wow! I loved it!
June 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this translation of ancient Indian fables. The morals continue to be true today, as are all fables in my opinion, and I will read this again and again. Thank you 欧宝娱乐 Giveaways!
July 12, 2024
I wrongly assumed that this would be in English or that I could get the ebook to translate. Neither were true, so I must wait for a translated version to give a better review. So sad....
April 24, 2015
I won this book a couple of months back in a giveaway contest held at goodreads.com and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The author wrote a personalized message in the book and also sent a beautiful card. Thanks to the author for both the beautiful card and a delightful message. However, before discussing the book, let us talk something about the Panchatantra.
Who does not know about the Panchatantra (five tantras or principles or techniques), a renowned collection of moral tales and stories? It is a rare piece of literature as it discusses complicated topics of philosophy, politics, psychology and human relationships in an uncomplicated manner. And, this is the reason; the beautiful animal fables of the Panchatantra have delighted not only children but also adults in a similar way for a long time. Additionally, the stories of the Panchatantra have been referred to as the best collection of stories. This is a fact, which can hardly be disapproved.
Another important feature of the Panchatantra is the presence of story within story or the overlapping stories. Got confused? Well! The Panchatantra has five major stories and each of these major stories contain sub-stories. These sub-stories again contain one or more overlapping stories and it seems that the stories will never end. Interesting, isn鈥檛 it? Read the book under review and you will actually come to know what I am trying to say. You will definitely enjoy reading these intersecting stories.
The antiquity of these tales has been debated at many times by different scholars in diverse academic journals. However, the 鈥榮o called鈥� original Sanskrit work is believed to be composed by Pundit Vishnu Sharma around 200 BCE. It is clear, nevertheless, that Vishnu Sharma did not invent these stories. His work, on the other hand, is believed to be based on the oral traditions passed from one generation to the next ones through the words of mouth. So, when did actually such stories come into picture? The oldest evidence of such stories in India comes from one of the Harappan sites in Gujarat, which can be dated 4000 years back. This site has thrown light on two pot shards depicting two stories (The thirsty Crow and The Cunning Fox) in the tongue of animals. Do you remember The thirsty Crow or The Cunning Fox? I hope鈥ou do remember!
The tales of Panchatantra gained popularity and at a later date got translated into many languages all over the world. A Persian Ibn al-Muqaffa translated the Panchatantra from Middle Persian to Arabic as Kalila and Dimna, which is considered as the first masterpiece of Arabic literature. And, this is this Arabic prose, which Ramsay Wood has tried to retell in a refreshing style. At the same time, he has not focused his retelling only on this Arabic book but tried to go back to the original tales of the Panchatantra.
The book under review begins with an introduction by Doris Lessing, who tells us about the ancient art of storytelling. This introduction is as fascinating to read as the book itself. In the old fashioned school of storytelling, Kalila and Dimna takes us back to our childhood when we used to love reading or hearing these animal fables. The incorporation of various illustrations enhances the quality of its reading. The author has researched well and tried to incorporate as much information as possible without making the book a complicated read. The language is easy to follow and the stories are fast paced. The characters in the book speak for themselves and become alive. The author has done full justice to the original tales of the Panchatantra and should be complimented for that.
I do not know whether the children of present world read such stories or not. If not then they should have given the opportunity to read these stories as these may play an important role in their overall development. The moral lessons given in these stories are easier to digest. These stories are still mesmerizing and the ethical values inherent in them still have relevancy. And, this is where the books like Kalila and Dimna become important.
Well! I enjoyed reading each and every page of this book and do hope that you will also enjoy reading it.
Read More On:
Who does not know about the Panchatantra (five tantras or principles or techniques), a renowned collection of moral tales and stories? It is a rare piece of literature as it discusses complicated topics of philosophy, politics, psychology and human relationships in an uncomplicated manner. And, this is the reason; the beautiful animal fables of the Panchatantra have delighted not only children but also adults in a similar way for a long time. Additionally, the stories of the Panchatantra have been referred to as the best collection of stories. This is a fact, which can hardly be disapproved.
Another important feature of the Panchatantra is the presence of story within story or the overlapping stories. Got confused? Well! The Panchatantra has five major stories and each of these major stories contain sub-stories. These sub-stories again contain one or more overlapping stories and it seems that the stories will never end. Interesting, isn鈥檛 it? Read the book under review and you will actually come to know what I am trying to say. You will definitely enjoy reading these intersecting stories.
The antiquity of these tales has been debated at many times by different scholars in diverse academic journals. However, the 鈥榮o called鈥� original Sanskrit work is believed to be composed by Pundit Vishnu Sharma around 200 BCE. It is clear, nevertheless, that Vishnu Sharma did not invent these stories. His work, on the other hand, is believed to be based on the oral traditions passed from one generation to the next ones through the words of mouth. So, when did actually such stories come into picture? The oldest evidence of such stories in India comes from one of the Harappan sites in Gujarat, which can be dated 4000 years back. This site has thrown light on two pot shards depicting two stories (The thirsty Crow and The Cunning Fox) in the tongue of animals. Do you remember The thirsty Crow or The Cunning Fox? I hope鈥ou do remember!
The tales of Panchatantra gained popularity and at a later date got translated into many languages all over the world. A Persian Ibn al-Muqaffa translated the Panchatantra from Middle Persian to Arabic as Kalila and Dimna, which is considered as the first masterpiece of Arabic literature. And, this is this Arabic prose, which Ramsay Wood has tried to retell in a refreshing style. At the same time, he has not focused his retelling only on this Arabic book but tried to go back to the original tales of the Panchatantra.
The book under review begins with an introduction by Doris Lessing, who tells us about the ancient art of storytelling. This introduction is as fascinating to read as the book itself. In the old fashioned school of storytelling, Kalila and Dimna takes us back to our childhood when we used to love reading or hearing these animal fables. The incorporation of various illustrations enhances the quality of its reading. The author has researched well and tried to incorporate as much information as possible without making the book a complicated read. The language is easy to follow and the stories are fast paced. The characters in the book speak for themselves and become alive. The author has done full justice to the original tales of the Panchatantra and should be complimented for that.
I do not know whether the children of present world read such stories or not. If not then they should have given the opportunity to read these stories as these may play an important role in their overall development. The moral lessons given in these stories are easier to digest. These stories are still mesmerizing and the ethical values inherent in them still have relevancy. And, this is where the books like Kalila and Dimna become important.
Well! I enjoyed reading each and every page of this book and do hope that you will also enjoy reading it.
Read More On:
May 10, 2021
Beautifully written! I treasure each story. The history of Kalila and Dimna is so interesting. I did not read Kalila and Dimna all in one sitting but rather read a little at a time. What a treasure to be able to read stories that were once orally told and now we have a perfect version to read. Thank you Ramsay Wood.
February 16, 2018
Not read many books of fables before so was not sure whether it would be for me - but I found that I really liked it. I liked the contemporary style and also the layered linking of stories within stories which then return to the main storyline. The modern, light touch approach to this updated presentation made it fun, and enjoyable to read. It has sparked an interest in me to read more fables -
and to reflect on them for their moralistic content and use them as a way of articulating the lessons to be learned when attempting to influence others/situations. Another reviewer advised against reading this book to children, but I see no problem with this, and think I will let my 7 year old grandson have a go at it.
I was pleased to receive this as a 'Giveaway' and I appreciated the autographed copy, especially with the delightful, personal message on a card inside - which also told me I had been the only person to win it out of 2,140 entrants!
I intend to read the second book.
and to reflect on them for their moralistic content and use them as a way of articulating the lessons to be learned when attempting to influence others/situations. Another reviewer advised against reading this book to children, but I see no problem with this, and think I will let my 7 year old grandson have a go at it.
I was pleased to receive this as a 'Giveaway' and I appreciated the autographed copy, especially with the delightful, personal message on a card inside - which also told me I had been the only person to win it out of 2,140 entrants!
I intend to read the second book.
September 6, 2018
These folk tales have a long pedigree dating back to the Sanskrit and may reflect the oral tradition long before that. Some of the tales are very short, others are much longer. There are two groups of tales, Kalila and Dimna, and Zirac and Friends, bound together by the first tale of King Dabshelim and Bidpai.
I can see a teacher or librarian using them by having students act out the tales or rewriting them in their own words.
Wood has succeeded in putting the tales into modern English and it certainly would appeal to children as the language is very colorful. Anyone with a sibling could relate to the two brothers, Kalila and Dimna.
On the negative side, the occasional profane word would cause its dismissal in some Southern schools, e.g. "good God."
There is no mention of the source of the illustrations but they certainly are fitting.
My favorite tales are those of Zirac and Friends.
I can see a teacher or librarian using them by having students act out the tales or rewriting them in their own words.
Wood has succeeded in putting the tales into modern English and it certainly would appeal to children as the language is very colorful. Anyone with a sibling could relate to the two brothers, Kalila and Dimna.
On the negative side, the occasional profane word would cause its dismissal in some Southern schools, e.g. "good God."
There is no mention of the source of the illustrations but they certainly are fitting.
My favorite tales are those of Zirac and Friends.
April 28, 2020
An adept modernization of ancient stories about
friendship. Delightfully colorful descriptive writing.
The animals in the story come to anthropomorphic
life yet retain their animal characteristics, wonderfully
detailed. I am going to give it four stars just to perhaps
add interest; sort of like someone withholding his
hall-of-fame vote for an obvious unanimous choice.
Let's just say that, here and there, within the stream
of brilliantly original 20th-century-izing of the language
and expression of these stories while still retaining a
sense of 'ancient fable', there is the occasional interjection
of slang that somehow sticks out and doesn't, to my taste,
flow with the rest of the text. This is a minor complaint.
I felt the work was exceptionally admirable as prose, and
a memorably valuable read in terms of substance as well.
friendship. Delightfully colorful descriptive writing.
The animals in the story come to anthropomorphic
life yet retain their animal characteristics, wonderfully
detailed. I am going to give it four stars just to perhaps
add interest; sort of like someone withholding his
hall-of-fame vote for an obvious unanimous choice.
Let's just say that, here and there, within the stream
of brilliantly original 20th-century-izing of the language
and expression of these stories while still retaining a
sense of 'ancient fable', there is the occasional interjection
of slang that somehow sticks out and doesn't, to my taste,
flow with the rest of the text. This is a minor complaint.
I felt the work was exceptionally admirable as prose, and
a memorably valuable read in terms of substance as well.
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