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The Ship of Fools by Sebastian Brant is a work of literary fiction available to read on EtoBox.

What is The Ship of Fools about?

Published in 1494 in Basel, The Ship of Fools was soon translated into every major European language. It provoked a vast number of imitations and remained steadily in print through the eighteenth century (with sporadic reprints after that). It still possesses an enormous vigor and vitality. The book owes its long life to an imagination, wit, and humor rich with insights into human nature, yet neither bitter nor namby pamby. Its commentary on the boasting, pedantry, false learning, gambling, gluttony, medical folly, adultery, greed, envy, hatred, pride and other failings that mark humanity are sharp and telling, and, sadly, as relevant today as they were 450 years ago. This translation by Professor Edwin H. Zeydel is the only accurate English translation ever published. (Barclay's version is really a pastiche written in imitation of Brant.) The form Professor Zeydel uses is verse, like the original, and he even retains the original rhyme scheme and meter. The achievement is remarkable, for it captures all the charm and movement of the original German while sacrificing nothing to readability and fluidity. Published now with the 114 original Renaissance woodcuts and with Professor Z

Who reads The Ship of Fools?

Author

Sebastian Brant

Publisher

Dover Publications, Incorporated

Published

1962

Language

EN

ISBN

9780486257914

Category

work of literary fiction

Subjects

Literary Collections, Literary Fiction, Fiction

Rating

3.75 / 5 (87 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-13