A Fish of the World

They say travel broadens the mind, but it's just the opposite for this fishy herring hero. After returning from a journey round the world, he's too busy dwelling on the strange and wonderful sights he's seen to get on with the business of living. He won't eat, talk with his family or even spawn. 'I know everything there is to know,' he tells one of the oldest herrings. But he doesn't know about herring fishermen until it's too late. This enigmatic tale, which is open to many interpretations, was (like the title reviewed below) first published in Terry Jones' Fairy Tales. Michael Foreman's illustrations of the wonders of the deep leave readers free to make of it what they will.