From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
99 Fables
Book by William March
Book by William March
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 99 Fables |
| image | March fables.jpg |
| author | William March |
| cover_artist | Richard Brough |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| genre | Fable |
| publisher | 1960 (University of Alabama Press) |
| media_type | Print (hardback) |
| pages | 202 pp |
| preceded_by | A William March Omnibus |
99 Fables is a book of fables by American author William March. The collection was first written around 1938 (there were ca. 125 fables then) but was never published as a whole. More than 40 had been published in journals and magazines such as Prairie Schooner, Kansas Magazine, Rocky Mountain Review, and New York Post. Not long before his death in 1954, March returned to the collection and edited it, leaving 99 fables in all. March's manuscripts of the fables were further edited in 1959 by William T. Going, and published in 1960 by the University of Alabama Press, with illustrations by Richard Brough. The cover won an award at the 1960 Southern Books Competition.{{cite journal
''99 Fables'' in March's oeuvre
Although the collection is among the most obscure of March's works, 99 Fables stands as an almost complete picture of the world March inhabited: many of the complex themes that populate much of March's work are here restated in a more simplistic form.{{cite news
Critical reception
What few reviews there are (Simmonds lists only three in his William March: An Annotated Checklist) are mixed. According to Allen King, writing in the South Atlantic Bulletin, March "emphasizes the platitudes of life by the platitudinous nature of his fables."{{cite journal | last = King | first = Allen | title = Rev. of William March, 99 Fables | journal = South Atlantic Bulletin | volume = 27 | issue = 1
:"As one reads the fables, one is haunted by the resemblance of William March to his natural predecessor, Ambrose Bierce. The two men had much in common: their work is criss-crossed with similar themes; both were ridden with personal demons; both viewed life with bitterness; each was a minor genius; and each was the most neglected writer of his time."
Canonical status
99 Fables has not yet achieved the status its editor thinks it deserves, though occasionally the book, which was never reprinted and is a relatively rare university press publication, has received significant mention a few times. Leonard Feinberg referred to its "poignant cynicism" in his Introduction to Satire.{{cite book :On the morning they visited her, they said solemnly, "Do you know the meaning of poost, gist, duss, and feng?" :The little girl admitted that she did not, and then, smiling happily, she said, "Oh, you must mean feek, kusk, dalu, and liben!" :Those who don't know the words must make them up for themselves.
References
References
- Simmonds, Roy S.. (1988). "William March: An Annotated Checklist". University of Alabama Press.
- Lee, Nelle Harper. (July–August 1960). "Rev. of ''99 Fables''". Alabama Alumni News.
- Going, "Introduction" to ''99 Fables'', p. xviii-xix.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 99 Fables — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report