Aesop's Fables

AesopAug 2015

4.2

Word count: 60K words
Chapters: 318

Summary

203 of Aesop's most enduring and popular fables, translated into readable, modern American English and beautifully illustrated with 50 classic woodcuts by the great French artist J.J. Grandville.

Editor's review

The value of this book lies not in its length but in its density: each of its two hundred-plus short tales delivers a judgment in a few hundred words, with animals that keep their instincts while being given human situations, and endings often summed up in a single line. This edition's readability comes from two things: the translation uses modern English, with short sentences and plenty of dialogue, so beginners are not blocked by archaic language; and it includes fifty woodcuts by the French illustrator Grandville, images that are themselves examples of nineteenth-century book illustration and can be enjoyed on their own. The stories mostly involve strength and weakness, deception, greed and contentment, with clear stances, making them suitable for shared reading and discussion in classrooms and at home. Note that the fables' conclusions bear the marks of their era, and a few morals seem absolute—just the opening to talk with a child about whether rules always have exceptions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Parents who want short shared readings and discussions with their children
English learners hoping to build reading confidence with short texts
Language or English teachers who need classroom materials
Readers who enjoy aphoristic short stories and read in fragmented time

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for long, continuous plots and character growth
Serious theory readers seeking systematic philosophical argument
Readers who dislike moralizing endings

Reading tips

Read three to five tales a day, then restate the moral in one sentence
Read the story first, cover the ending, and let the co-reader state their own judgment
Treat the woodcuts as independent clues and observe how the animals' expressions relate to the plot
Pick out the tales whose conclusions are too absolute and discuss them against concrete situations today

Copyright information
LITERARY CLASSICS COLLECTION
AESOP
THE WORLD OF AESOP AND HIS FABLES
INTRODUCTIO
The Man Aesop
Ancient Greek and Latin Collections
From the Middle Ages to the Present
Oriental Fables
The Fable as a Literary Genre
The Moral of the Story
Moral Philosophy
Be True to Yourself
Practical Everyday Advice
Reflection of Human Psychology
Etiological Tales
Religion
Fables and Folklore
Modern Translations of Aesop
CHAPTER 01 THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
CHAPTER 02 THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG
CHAPTER 03 THE CAT AND THE MIC
CHAPTER 04 THE MISCHIEVOUS DO
CHAPTER 05 THE CHARCOAL BURNER AND THE FULLE
CHAPTER 06 THE MICE IN COUNCI
CHAPTER 07 THE BAT AND THE WEASEL
CHAPTER 08 THE DOG AND THE SO
CHAPTER 09 THE FOX AND THE CRO
CHAPTER 10 THE HORSE AND THE GROO
CHAPTER 11 THE WOLF AND THE LAM
CHAPTER 12 THE PEACOCK AND THE CRAN
CHAPTER 13 THE CAT AND THE BIRD
CHAPTER 14 THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLO
CHAPTER 15 THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR
CHAPTER 16 THE MOON AND HER MOTHE
CHAPTER 17 MERCURY AND THE WOODMA
CHAPTER 18 THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 19 THE LION AND THE MOUS
CHAPTER 20 THE CROW AND THE PITCHE
CHAPTER 21 THE BOYS AND THE FROG
CHAPTER 22 THE NORTH WIND AND THE SU
CHAPTER 23 THE MISTRESS AND HER SERVANT
CHAPTER 24 THE GOODS AND THE ILL
CHAPTER 25 THE HARES AND THE FROG
CHAPTER 26 THE FOX AND THE STOR
CHAPTER 27 THE WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHIN
CHAPTER 28 THE STAG IN THE OX STAL
CHAPTER 29 THE MILKMAID AND HER PAI
CHAPTER 30 THE DOLPHINS, THE WHALES, AND THE SPRAT
CHAPTER 31 THE FOX AND THE MONKE
CHAPTER 32 THE ASS AND THE LAPDO
CHAPTER 33 THE FIR TREE AND THE BRAMBL
CHAPTER 34 THE FROGS’ COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SU
CHAPTER 35 THE DOG, THE COCK, AND THE FOX
CHAPTER 36 THE GNAT AND THE BUL
CHAPTER 37 THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELER
CHAPTER 38 THE SLAVE AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 39 THE FLEA AND THE MA
CHAPTER 40 THE BEE AND JUPITE
CHAPTER 41 THE OAK AND THE REED
CHAPTER 42 THE BLIND MAN AND THE CU
CHAPTER 43 THE BOY AND THE SNAIL
CHAPTER 44 THE APES AND THE TWO TRAVELER
CHAPTER 45 THE ASS AND HIS BURDEN
CHAPTER 46 THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF
CHAPTER 47 THE FOX AND THE GOA
CHAPTER 48 THE FISHERMAN AND THE SPRA
CHAPTER 49 THE BOASTING TRAVELE
CHAPTER 50 THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHE
CHAPTER 51 THE ASS AND HIS SHADO
CHAPTER 52 THE FARMER AND HIS SON
CHAPTER 53 THE DOG AND THE COO
CHAPTER 54 THE MONKEY AS KIN
CHAPTER 55 THE THIEVES AND THE COC
CHAPTER 56 THE FARMER AND FORTUN
CHAPTER 57 JUPITER AND THE MONKE
CHAPTER 58 FATHER AND SON
CHAPTER 59 THE LAM
CHAPTER 60 THE OWL AND THE BIRD
CHAPTER 61 THE ASS IN THE LION’S SKI
CHAPTER 62 THE SHE-GOATS AND THEIR BEARD
CHAPTER 63 THE OLD LIO
CHAPTER 64 THE BOY BATHIN
CHAPTER 65 THE QUACK FRO
CHAPTER 66 THE SWOLLEN FO
CHAPTER 67 THE MOUSE, THE FROG, AND THE HAW
CHAPTER 68 THE BOY AND THE NETTLE
CHAPTER 69 THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE TRE
CHAPTER 70 THE JACKDAW AND THE PIGEON
CHAPTER 71 JUPITER AND THE TORTOIS
CHAPTER 72 THE DOG IN THE MANGE
CHAPTER 73 THE TWO BAG
CHAPTER 74 THE OXEN AND THE AXLETREE
CHAPTER 75 THE BOY AND THE FILBERT
CHAPTER 76 THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KIN
CHAPTER 77 THE OLIVE TREE AND THE FIG TRE
CHAPTER 78 THE LION AND THE BOA
CHAPTER 79 THE WALNUT TRE
CHAPTER 80 THE MAN AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 81 THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGL
CHAPTER 82 THE KID ON THE HOUSETO
CHAPTER 83 THE FOX WITHOUT A TAI
CHAPTER 84 THE VAIN JACKDA
CHAPTER 85 THE TRAVELER AND HIS DO
CHAPTER 86 THE SHIPWRECKED MAN AND THE SE
CHAPTER 87 THE WILD BOAR AND THE FO
CHAPTER 88 MERCURY AND THE SCULPTO
CHAPTER 89 THE FAWN AND HIS MOTHE
CHAPTER 90 THE FOX AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 91 THE EAGLE AND HIS CAPTO
CHAPTER 92 THE BLACKSMITH AND HIS DO
CHAPTER 93 THE STAG AT THE POO
CHAPTER 94 THE DOG AND HIS REFLECTIO
CHAPTER 95 MERCURY AND THE TRADESME
CHAPTER 96 THE MICE AND THE WEASEL
CHAPTER 97 THE PEACOCK AND JUN
CHAPTER 98 THE BEAR AND THE FO
CHAPTER 99 THE ASS AND THE OLD PEASAN
CHAPTER 100 THE OX AND THE FRO
CHAPTER 101 THE MAN AND THE IMAG
CHAPTER 102 HERCULES AND THE WAGONE
CHAPTER 103 THE POMEGRANATE, THE APPLE TREE, AND THE BRAMBL
CHAPTER 104 THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FO
CHAPTER 105 THE BLACKAMOO
CHAPTER 106 THE TWO SOLDIERS AND THE ROBBE
CHAPTER 107 THE LION AND THE WILD AS
CHAPTER 108 THE MAN AND THE SATY
CHAPTER 109 THE IMAGE SELLE
CHAPTER 110 THE EAGLE AND THE ARRO
CHAPTER 111 THE RICH MAN AND THE TANNE
CHAPTER 112 THE WOLF, THE MOTHER, AND HER CHILD
CHAPTER 113 THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE JA
CHAPTER 114 THE LIONESS AND THE VIXE
CHAPTER 115 THE VIPER AND THE FIL
CHAPTER 116 THE CAT AND THE COC
CHAPTER 117 THE HARE AND THE TORTOIS
CHAPTER 118 THE SOLDIER AND THE HORS
CHAPTER 119 THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHER
CHAPTER 120 THE WOLF AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 121 THE SHEEP, THE WOLF, AND THE STAG
CHAPTER 122 THE LION AND THE THREE BULL
CHAPTER 123 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDE
CHAPTER 124 THE GOAT AND THE VIN
CHAPTER 125 THE TWO POT
CHAPTER 126 THE OLD HOUN
CHAPTER 127 THE CLOWN AND THE COUNTRYMA
CHAPTER 128 THE LARK AND THE FARME
CHAPTER 129 THE LION AND THE AS
CHAPTER 130 THE PROPHE
CHAPTER 131 THE HOUND AND THE HAR
CHAPTER 132 THE LION, THE MOUSE, AND THE FOX
CHAPTER 133 THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONE
CHAPTER 134 THE WOLF AND THE CRAN
CHAPTER 135 THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SO
CHAPTER 136 THE WOLF AND THE SHEE
CHAPTER 137 THE TUNA FISH AND THE DOLPHI
CHAPTER 138 THE THREE TRADESME
CHAPTER 139 THE MOUSE AND THE BUL
CHAPTER 140 THE HARE AND THE HOUN
CHAPTER 141 THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUS
CHAPTER 142 THE LION AND THE BUL
CHAPTER 143 THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE AP
CHAPTER 144 THE EAGLE AND THE COCK
CHAPTER 145 THE ESCAPED JACKDA
CHAPTER 146 THE FARMER AND THE FO
CHAPTER 147 VENUS AND THE CA
CHAPTER 148 THE CROW AND THE SWA
CHAPTER 149 THE STAG WITH ONE EY
CHAPTER 150 THE FLY AND THE DRAFT MUL
CHAPTER 151 THE COCK AND THE JEWE
CHAPTER 152 THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHER
CHAPTER 153 THE FARMER AND THE STOR
CHAPTER 154 THE CHARGER AND THE MILLE
CHAPTER 155 THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OW
CHAPTER 156 THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
CHAPTER 157 THE FARMER AND THE VIPE
CHAPTER 158 THE TWO FROG
CHAPTER 159 THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTO
CHAPTER 160 THE ASS, THE COCK, AND THE LION
CHAPTER 161 THE BELLY AND THE MEMBER
CHAPTER 162 THE BALD MAN AND THE FL
CHAPTER 163 THE ASS AND THE WOL
CHAPTER 164 THE MONKEY AND THE CAME
CHAPTER 165 THE SICK MAN AND THE DOCTO
CHAPTER 166 THE TRAVELERS AND THE PLANE TRE
CHAPTER 167 THE FLEA AND THE O
CHAPTER 168 THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT
CHAPTER 169 THE MAN AND HIS TWO MISTRESSE
CHAPTER 170 THE EAGLE, THE JACKDAW, AND THE SHEPHER
CHAPTER 171 THE WOLF AND THE BO
CHAPTER 172 THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR AS
CHAPTER 173 THE STAG AND THE VIN
CHAPTER 174 THE LAMB CHASED BY A WOL
CHAPTER 175 THE ARCHER AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 176 THE WOLF AND THE GOA
CHAPTER 177 THE SICK STA
CHAPTER 178 THE ASS AND THE MUL
CHAPTER 179 BROTHER AND SISTE
CHAPTER 180 THE HEIFER AND THE O
CHAPTER 181 THE KINGDOM OF THE LIO
CHAPTER 182 THE ASS AND HIS DRIVE
CHAPTER 183 THE LION AND THE HAR
CHAPTER 184 THE WOLVES AND THE DOG
CHAPTER 185 THE BULL AND THE CAL
CHAPTER 186 THE TREES AND THE A
CHAPTER 187 THE ASTRONOME
CHAPTER 188 THE LABORER AND THE SNAK
CHAPTER 189 THE CAGED BIRD AND THE BA
CHAPTER 190 THE ASS AND HIS PURCHASE
CHAPTER 191 THE KID AND THE WOL
CHAPTER 192 THE DEBTOR AND HIS SO
CHAPTER 193 THE BALD HUNTSMA
CHAPTER 194 THE HERDSMAN AND THE LOST BUL
CHAPTER 195 THE HOUND AND THE FO
CHAPTER 196 THE MUL
CHAPTER 197 THE FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTER
CHAPTER 198 THE THIEF AND THE INNKEEPE
CHAPTER 199 THE PACK ASS AND THE WILD ASS
CHAPTER 200 THE ASS AND HIS MASTER
CHAPTER 201 THE PACK ASS, THE WILD ASS, AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 202 THE AN
CHAPTER 203 THE FROGS AND THE WEL
CHAPTER 204 THE CRAB AND THE FO
CHAPTER 205 THE FOX AND THE GRASSHOPPE
CHAPTER 206 THE FARMER, HIS BOY, AND THE ROOKS
CHAPTER 207 THE ASS AND THE DO
CHAPTER 208 THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAG
CHAPTER 209 THE ATHENIAN AND THE THEBAN
CHAPTER 210 THE GOATHERD AND THE GOA
CHAPTER 211 THE SHEEP AND THE DO
CHAPTER 212 THE SHEPHERD AND THE WOL
CHAPTER 213 THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHAN
CHAPTER 214 THE PIG AND THE SHEE
CHAPTER 215 THE GARDENER AND HIS DO
CHAPTER 216 THE RIVERS AND THE SE
CHAPTER 217 THE LION IN LOV
218 THE BEEKEEPE
CHAPTER 219 THE WOLF AND THE HORS
CHAPTER 220 THE BAT, THE BRAMBLE, AND THE SEAGUL
CHAPTER 221 THE DOG AND THE WOL
CHAPTER 222 THE WASP AND THE SNAK
CHAPTER 223 THE EAGLE AND THE BEETL
CHAPTER 224 THE FOWLER AND THE LAR
CHAPTER 225 THE FISHERMAN PIPIN
CHAPTER 226 THE WEASEL AND THE MA
CHAPTER 227 THE PLOWMAN, THE ASS, AND THE O
CHAPTER 228 DEMADES AND HIS FABL
CHAPTER 229 THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHI
CHAPTER 230 THE CROW AND THE SNAK
CHAPTER 231 THE DOGS AND THE FO
CHAPTER 232 THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE HAW
CHAPTER 233 THE ROSE AND THE AMARANT
CHAPTER 234 THE MAN, THE HORSE, THE OX, AND THE DO
CHAPTER 235 THE WOLVES, THE SHEEP, AND THE RA
CHAPTER 236 THE SWA
CHAPTER 237 THE SNAKE AND JUPITE
CHAPTER 238 THE WOLF AND HIS SHADO
CHAPTER 239 THE PLOWMAN AND THE WOL
CHAPTER 240 MERCURY AND THE MAN BITTEN BY AN AN
CHAPTER 241 THE WILY LIO
CHAPTER 242 THE PARROT AND THE CA
CHAPTER 243 THE STAG AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 244 THE IMPOSTE
CHAPTER 245 THE DOGS AND THE HIDE
CHAPTER 246 THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS
CHAPTER 247 THE FOWLER, THE PARTRIDGE, AND THE COC
CHAPTER 248 THE GNAT AND THE LIO
CHAPTER 249 THE FARMER AND HIS DOG
CHAPTER 250 THE EAGLE AND THE FO
CHAPTER 251 THE BUTCHER AND HIS CUSTOMER
CHAPTER 252 HERCULES AND MINERV
CHAPTER 253 THE FOX WHO SERVED A LIO
CHAPTER 254 THE QUACK DOCTO
CHAPTER 255 THE LION, THE WOLF, AND THE FO
CHAPTER 256 HERCULES AND PLUTU
CHAPTER 257 THE FOX AND THE LEOPAR
CHAPTER 258 THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHO
CHAPTER 259 THE CROW AND THE RAVE
CHAPTER 260 THE WITC
CHAPTER 261 THE OLD MAN AND DEAT
CHAPTER 262 THE MISE
CHAPTER 263 THE FOXES AND THE RIVE
CHAPTER 264 THE HORSE AND THE STA
CHAPTER 265 THE FOX AND THE BRAMBL
CHAPTER 266 THE FOX AND THE SNAK
CHAPTER 267 THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE STAG
CHAPTER 268 THE MAN WHO LOST HIS SPAD
CHAPTER 269 THE PARTRIDGE AND THE FOWLE
CHAPTER 270 THE RUNAWAY SLAV
CHAPTER 271 THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMA
CHAPTER 272 THE SERPENT AND THE EAGL
CHAPTER 273 THE ROGUE AND THE ORACL
CHAPTER 274 THE HORSE AND THE AS
CHAPTER 275 THE DOG CHASING A WOL
CHAPTER 276 GRIEF AND HIS DU
CHAPTER 277 THE HAWK, THE KITE, AND THE PIGEON
CHAPTER 278 THE WOMAN AND THE FARME
CHAPTER 279 PROMETHEUS AND THE MAKING OF MA
CHAPTER 280 THE SWALLOW AND THE CRO
CHAPTER 281 THE HUNTER AND THE HORSEMA
CHAPTER 282 THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOAT
CHAPTER 283 THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE SWALLO
CHAPTER 284 THE TRAVELER AND FORTUN
CHAPTER 285 GLOSSARY OF NAMES AND TERMS FROM CLASSICAL MYTHO
APPENDI
Orwell’s Animal Farm
Aesop in the World’s Lexicon
Comments HERODOTUS
CHARLES W. ELIOT
THE NATION
THE TIMES OF LONDON
OSCAR FAY ADAM
Questions
The Life of Aesop
The Aesopic Fable
Oriental Fables
Folktale Studies
Internet Resources

FAQ

What age is this suitable for?

The stories are short with clear plots: lower-to-middle primary school children can read them with a parent, and older children can read independently. Some pieces involve death, deception and similar content; parents can look through first and choose according to the child's understanding—there is no need to finish it all at once.

How difficult is the English original?

The translation is modern American English, with short sentences and many common words, suitable as transitional material after graded readers. Unfamiliar words are mostly animal names and old occupations; once looked up they recur, so overall reading pressure is low.

Are the fifty woodcuts decoration or information?

Both. The illustrations are by the nineteenth-century French illustrator Grandville, with an exaggerated style that hints at key actions and character relationships; they are also examples of the history of book illustration and can be appreciated as prints on their own.

Is the moralizing too heavy?

Some endings do state a moral directly, and with a single stance. You can use that as a starting point for discussion, asking the child whether they agree or giving counterexamples. Reading this way is more valuable than simply memorizing conclusions.

Comments

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About the author

Aesop Author

Aesop is one of the most representative names in the Western fable tradition. Public information about his life is limited: neither his nationality nor his dates of birth and death are reliably recorded, and later ages have generally regarded him as a legendary figure. The work handed down under his name, Aesop's Fables, gathers a large number of short, pointed animal fables, often using lions, foxes, wolves and tortoises to mirror human affairs. The language is concise, and each tale usually ends by stating its moral. Brief in length and brisk in plot, these stories suit both oral transmission and children's reading, and have therefore circulated widely in East and West, being repeatedly translated and adapted. They remain an important source for later fable writing and moral education. This site lists one work by the author, commonly categorized as inspirational growth.