Demonstrating that The Folio Society have fully understood the wordplay romp that is the story they have entitled “Of a Justiciary who did not Recall Certain Parts”, they differ from, “Concerning A Provost Who Did Not Recognise Things”, the version of The Bibliophilist Society.
This tale of trickery perpetrated on the victim of cuckoldry is packed with Balzac’s double entendres, puns and other wordplay. The translator has retained “la voir” and “l’avoir” (to see her and to have her) in the original French.
Here is Mervyn Peake’s Folio Society drawing;
and here those of Gustave Doré for the Bibliophilist Society.
Further details of the publications are given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/except that there are no pictures here by Jean de Bosschère as I do not have any of the third Decade by him.
The Russan translation also retained the delightful wordplay. Peake’s illustrations are as whimsical and frolicky, as ever.
Thank you so much, Dolly, for that important confirmation
I like the little mouse in that one drawing. I bet that mouse was witness to many things. 🙂
Yes. I almost pointed it out myself – so I’m pleased you appreciated it Lavinia. I am also pleased you seem able to comment now
Things seem to be working for me now. 🙂
The execution illustrations look somewhat surreal, but to me don’t fit with droll words.
I think the drollery is in “for all change in his joy he looked for a msn to hang, and when he was asked to find one he never failed to meet him” on p482. Thank you very much for your close observation, Merril
Thank you, Derrick. ????
Powerful emotion-filled illustrations.
And the teeny-tine mouse brought a smile. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️
Yes. That mouse was a good touch. Thank you very much, Carolyn X
It must be quite tricky to retain wordplay and puns in a translation. Every time I read a translation, I wonder what I’m missing out on by not being able to read the piece in its original language.
Me, too, Liz. Thank you very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.