Kalila and Dimna: Fables of Friendship and Betrayal [Paperback]

'Kalila and Dimna is the greatest present of the Islamic heritage ... Wood's superb stories should be set alongside Italo Calvino's retelling of the folktales of Italy. No higher praise is necessary.' --Carlos Fuentes

'Ramsay Wood follows his originals closely, and slips with skill in and out of stories as closely interfolded as the petals of a rose.' --Ursula le Guin

'Racy, funny, vigorous, contemporary - I defy anyone not to finish it in one sitting.' --Doris Lessing

His version will certainly be much more attractive to modern readers than the older translations, with the drier narratives and unfamiliar oriental hyperbole.

Crossing linguistic and cultural frontiers, these fables also transcend conventional time-frames. They abound with temporal paradoxes . . . They contain words of advice whose meaning only becomes gradually clear, sometimes after a very long delay.

The tales of "Kalila and Dimna", also known as "The Panchatantra", "Kalila wa Dimna" and "The Fables of Bidpai" originated in India almost two thousand years ago. These charming and humorous stories about animals have since found their way, in one form or another, into the folklore of every major culture and tradition. What links the fables is the core message about managing power, wise leadership and the value of true friendship. In his retelling of this world classic, Ramsay Wood deftly knits several oral storytelling traditions into a contemporary and captivating style. This version from all major ancient texts is the first new compendium in English since 1570. Young and old alike will treasure these beautifully illustrated tales.

In his retelling of 'Kalila and Dimna', Ramsay Wood deftly knits several oral storytelling traditions into a captivating literary style. This version from all major ancient texts is the first new compendium in English since 1570.

I am delighted by this exceptional new 2008 edition by Saqi Books! It displays a wonderful quality of workmanship and great care in production.

For this publisher, I have revised and updated the contents of all earlier editions. It includes, for example, important new material at the back by Dr Christine van Ruymbeke, Soudavar Lecturer in Persian at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University, and also an Abbreviated Pedigree of the book's ancient antecedents.

Some people think the history of 'Kalila and Dimna' is almost as interesting as reading the book itself. You can find out more about that aspect, should it interest you, by searching the title on Wikipedia.

`Racy, funny, vigorous, contemporary.'--Doris Lessing--

`Wood's superb stories should be set alongside
Italo Calvino's retelling of the folktales of Italy.'--Carlos Fuentes--

`Stories as closely interfolded as the petals of a rose.'--Ursula le Guin

Ramsay Wood was born into a diplomat's family and has lived in Vietnam, the Philippines, Scotland, France and the US. He was a founding member of the College of Storytellers. He lives in London and is the author of A Cat May Look at a King.

CHITCHAT TURTLE AND THE GEESE

For many years a pair of geese lived by a wonderful pond with a friendly yet garrulous turtle named Chitchat. One summer, however, there came a dreadful drought which reduced the pond to a veritable puddle and made life very miserable indeed for the three friends.

The geese decided to leave, went to the turtle and said, `Look here, Chitchat, things aren't what they used to be. The place stinks with rotten mud, the weeds tangle our legs, and there's nothing but puny food left in this dying
mess. Sorry to leave you, but we're flying off to a lake we know up north where life might be more tolerable.'

Chitchat looked very hurt and said, `That's all very well for you creatures with wings, but what am I supposed to do? When the water goes, so do I, for on dry land I'm as helpless as a beached whale. What to you is simply a detail
of comfort becomes for me a matter of life and death. Please spare me this agony of hopelessness and figure out a way to take me with you.'

The geese conferred briefly together, and after a few quiet quacks returned from their huddle and the gander spoke as follows:

`Dear friend, there may indeed be a way in which we can move from here as three. The method, however, involves deadly risk to you if silence you cannot keep. I must say this bluntly: you talk too much. Our greatest worry is you'll waste our favourite turtle if you speak a single word during our trip. No matter what happens, you must keep quiet to stay alive.'

The gander paused for emphasis, stretched his neck and shook himself in blur of ruffled feathers, flapping his white wings and wagging his tail before settling down again.

`What can I say?' Chitchat began softly a moment later. He hung his head, the skinfolds around his neck drooping pathetically. `Of course, you're quite right about this personality trait: restraint in speech has never been my forte. Gabblers like me so adore random talk that we forget how fatal twattle often proves. Thank you for the frank reminder; I'm very grateful for your advice.'

The turtle looked up with a wry grin and lurched closer by two steps. `If life saturates the pool of silence,' he declared. `I must drink its calm waters. I swear by my shell, by the lids of my eyes, and the sixteen webs between my toes that not another syllable will I utter until we reach the northern lake
you seek.' With that Chitchat shut his mouth firmly.

`Good!' said the gander. `We can start immediately. Just follow my instructions and everything will work out. If you are truly enough of your own friend to keep mum, there will be no danger to your turtlehood. But now excuse us, please, as we need to go and find something.'

The geese waddled off and returned carrying a strong stick which they dropped near Chitchat's feet. `Snap your beak around the middle of that,' said the gander. `Hang on tight and we're ready to go.'

Chitchat clamped on to the stick as directed. Goose and gander each gripped an end in their own beaks and, with several mighty flaps of their wings, lifted themselves and the dangling turtle into the air. At last the three friends were headed north towards the lake. During their flight, however, they passed over a village and were noticed by some of the yokels below.

`What's that cartwheel in the sky?' shouted one as he pointed at the strange sight.

`Look at those geese with the stick!' yelled a small farmboy.

`It's a turtle! It's a turtle! It's a funny flying turtle!' cried a little girl, whirling around in an excited jig of joy.

Soon a great commotion arose, everyone rushing to view nature's incredible threesome and shouting with all their might.

`Shut up, you pesky humans!' Chitchat yelled back, forgetting the price he must pay for exhausted patience. `God pluck your eyes out, you blithering clunkheads!' he shouted as he plummeted to earth and was smashed to
smithereens. That night several villagers enjoyed turtle soup for dinner.