Aesop embodies an epigram not uncommon in human history; his time is all the more deserved because he never deserved it. The firm foundations of common sense, the shrewd shots at uncommon sense, that characterise all the fables, belong not to him but to humanity. In the earliest human history whatever is authentic is universal: and whatever is universal is anonymous. In such cases there is always some central man who had first the trouble of collecting them, and afterwards the fame of creating them. He had the time; and, on the whole, he earned the time. ……
Aesop"s celebrated collection of fables has always been popular with both adults and children. These simple tales embody truths so powerful, the titles of individual fables - the fox and the grapes, the dog in the manger, the woff in sheep"s clothing and many others - have entered the languages and idioms of most European tongues.
This edition is beautifully illustrated in black and white by the great Arthur Rackham. and has an introduction by G.K. Chesterton.
Introduction
The Fox & the Grapes
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
The Cat & the Mice
The Mischievous Dog
The Charcoal-Burner & the Fuller
The Mice in Council
The Bat & the Weasels
The Dog & the Sow
The Fox & the Crow
The Horse & the Groom
The Wolf & the Lamb
The Peacock & the Crane
The Cat & the Birds
The Spendthrift & the Swallow
The Old Woman & the Doctor
The Moon & Her Mother
Mercury & the Woodman
The Ass, the Fox & the Lion
The Lion & the Mouse
The Crow & the Pitcher
The Boys & the Frogs
The North Wind & the Sun
The Mistress & Her Servants
The Goods & the Ills
The Hares & the Frogs
The Fox & the Stork
The Wolf in Sheep"s Clothing
The Stag in the Ox-Stall
The Milkmaid & Her Pail
The Dolphins, the Whales & the Sprat
The Fox & the Monkey
The Ass & the Lap-Dog
The Fir Tree & the Bramble
The Frogs" Complaint against the Sun
The Dog, the Cock & the Fox
The Gnat & the Bull
The Bear & the Travellers
The Slave & the Lion
The Flea & the Man
The Bee & Jupiter
The Oak & the Reeds
The Blind Man & the Cub
The Boy & the Snails
The Apes & the Two Travellers
The Ass & His Burdens
The Shepherd"s Boy & the Wolf
The Fox & the Goat
The Fisherman & the Sprat
The Boasting Traveller
The Crab & His Mother
……