A reprint of the anonymous 1680 edition of The most delectable history of Reynard the fox. Also reprinted in 1846, edited by "Felix Summerly" (pseudonym of Sir Henry Cole) and illustrated by Aldert Van Everdingen; and in 1920 as "edited for schools" by H. A. Treble.

Next to Aesop, Reynard the Fox is the best known of the tales in which animals play the chief part. It is natural, therefore, that a Cranford Aesop should be followed by a Cranford Reynard, and in the present volume I have endeavoured to do for Reynard what I attempted to do for Aesop in its predecessor - provide a text which children could read with ease and pleasure, and at the same time give their parents, their cousins, and their aunts a short resume of the results which the latest research in folklore and literary history has arrived at with regard to the origin of the book. I regard to the text, I found that ready-made to my hand. The late Sir Henry Cole, of South Kensington fame, in his earlier days made an attempt to reform children's books, and may be regarded as the precursor of their improved position to-day. Under the name of "Felix Summerley" he produced a number of children's books, well printed, well written, and tolerably illustrated, which some of us remember as the chief treasures of our youth. Among these was a version of Reynard - mostly adapted from Caxton's - which I found, with some slight alteration, could easily be adapted for my present purpose, and, in the main, the text of the present book is a resuscitation of" Felix Summerley's" version. - [Editor]

Language: English