The tales of "Kalila and Dimna", also known as "The Panchatantra", "Kalila wa Dimna" and "The Fables of Bidpai" originated in India almost two thousand years ago. These charming and humorous stories about animals have since found their way, in one form or another, into the folklore of every major culture and tradition. What links the fables is the core message about managing power, wise leadership and the value of true friendship. In his retelling of this world classic, Ramsay Wood deftly knits several oral storytelling traditions into a contemporary and captivating style. This version from all major ancient texts is the first new compendium in English since 1570. Young and old alike will treasure these beautifully illustrated tales.

伊本·穆格法（724～759）

Ibn al-Mugaffa'

阿拉伯作傢。生於波斯硃爾村（今伊朗設拉子南部） 。父為倭馬亞王朝稅收官。早年信仰祆教，受波斯文化熏陶 。後到文化都城巴士拉，獲得廣博的阿拉伯文化知識。阿拔斯王朝時任巴士拉總督的文書，改奉伊斯蘭教。但因作品錶露對統治者不滿，後在統治階級的傾軋中受牽連，以“僞信罪”被曼蘇爾哈裏發處死。他為阿拉伯文學開闢瞭翻譯領域，從巴列維文轉譯瞭印度的《五捲書》，並加以藝術再創作成為阿拉伯文寓言故事集《卡裏來和笛木乃》。此書又被譯成多種歐洲文字。他還從波斯文譯過幾種書，相傳還譯過亞裏士多德的著作。他的箴言集《小禮集和大禮集》亦集中反映瞭對社會政治、道德改良的觀點。他在阿拉伯文學中首先運用寓言體裁 ，並為阿拉伯散文藝術奠下基礎 。1959年齣版瞭《卡裏來和笛木乃》中譯本。