Saturday, August 28, 2021

Le lait de la Lionne by Isaac Bashevis Singer Illustrated by Philippe Fix

 Le lait de la Lionne by Isaac Bashevis Singer Illustrated by Philippe Fix is a wonderful little book released many years ago by Gallimard. The story the one of two spirits, Luck and Misfortune. These two spirits are completely differents: Luck is beautiful and young, Misfortune is old, ugly and repellent.

If the first one brings abundance in the existence of people, Misfortune will create a lot of conditions that won't permit to the men of being happy: illnesses, incidents, tribulations of various genre.

If Luck will build the existence of people driving them in the good direction, giving possibilities to people, presenting peace, harmony, love, friendship and stability, Misfortune will fight with all himself for destroying what Luck did.


The first spirit will permit to a young boy called Tam, the poorest one of the village of meeting for an apparent casuality the king of their reign and his beautiful daughter, Nesika.


Nesika had refused a lot of boys, because unsatisfied by all of them, but it was necessary to find for her a husband.


The king had had some problems during the trip, sorted out by Tam.

Appreciating the boy, the king offers him several roles at court.

Once, the king falls sick and the only possible cure is the milk of a lioness. Tam decides that will help the king!

And here the entrance in scene, again, of Misfortune: Misfortune will cause some trouble although Luck will fix it, and at the end you'll see that happiness, joy, serenity will win against that horrible creature.


I found this little book adorable. Luck plays an important role in our existence. If we are luck and we meet good people, good places, our existence will be beautiful; if we meet wrong and unsupporting people, wrong places, we won't go too distant.


It's a little fairy-tale this one, wonderfully illustrated, let me add, but that will let you think a lot.


Anna Maria Polidori 


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