Fables

Description

Aesop is believed to have lived in the sixth century B.C., a slave on the Greek island of Samos. His ability to teach lessons in morality through story has made his name synonymous with the genre of 'fable'. In the witty and entertaining tales attributed to him sly foxes, wicked wolves, industrious ants, and others, provide a commentary on human behaviour while the storyteller recommends the virtues of common sense and worldly wisdom. The Fables had already been popular for centuries before Roger L'Estrange published a new English translation in 1692, with the declared intention of making a comprehensive selection addressed to children. Everyman reprints his text, together with Stephen Gooden's superb engravings which were first published in 1936 in a limited edition.

Aesop was probably born in Thrace, Ancient Greece, around 600 BC. However, his existence as a historical figure is uncertain, though there are many legends surrounding him. The fables associated with him were not written down during his lifetime, but passed on through the oral tradition of storytelling, and eventually over 350 stories were collected under his name, many of which are still hugely popular today.