Beasts & Men / Folk Tales Collected in Flanders and Illustrated by Jean de Bosschère

The collection gathers traditional Flemish and Brabantine folktales that mix animal fables, trickster tales, origin myths, and comic moral episodes. Narratives range from trickster fox schemes and mock trials to origin stories explaining birds' colours, cats' habits, and the bear's short tail, and include giants, dragons, satyrs, and enchanted objects. Tales alternate playful episodes, moral reversals and imaginative grotesques, often ending with ironic justice or practical lesson. Presented as short, episodic narratives, the volume pairs lively storytelling with vivid scenes that emphasize local colour and folkloric charm.