The Fox in Global Folk Tales

In The Fox in Global Folk Tales, the reader will find a collection of stories from across the centuries and continents. The fox has fascinated those who create and consume stories since time immemorial. The all-time animal antihero is of course clever and cunning and many of these tales reflect that. However, foxes in stories can also be benefactors, gods and even, occasionally, fools. The rich storytelling tradition tapped into in this book says as much about us as it does about the sly red beast this collection is about. Why are the adventures of a thief and a scoundrel so alluring? Why isn’t there a selfless beast in the history of folklore that rivals this selfish one for number of stories or degree of interest? We may not know but we do know these fables were told long ago, are entertaining, and deserve to be preserved.