THE IGNORANT MONKEYS: And Other Tales from India

by Sal Friscia ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 1971

Although the title suggests the stupid monkeys of the Jataka tales, this is not a retelling of the actual folklore material but a series of original anecdotes framed in their image. The hackneyed jokes -- ""I remember: it well. It is my stomach which has such a poor memory"" -- revive a little in an Indian setting, but tack the ring of authentic folk wisdom. Doodle-like illustrations, haphazardly dispersed throughout, are a suitable adjunct to the insubstantial text. There are a number of good collections of Indian tales, from Joseph Jacobs' (1892) to Lucia Turnbull's (1960), which will provide more entertainment and a more convincing ethnic texture.

Pub Date: Oct. 18, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Pantheon

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION