For more than 2,000 years, the fables of the Greek slave known as Aesop have entertained readers with their wise reflections on human nature and their insightful, often witty 'morals'. This beautiful edition features more than 300 selections passed down through the ages, drawn from the classic compilations of Roger L'Estrange, Jean La Fontaine, and Samuel Croxall and lavishly illustrated by the nineteenth-century artist Ernest Griset. Part fairy tale, part fantasy, part parable, each of these fables is a polished gem of storytelling. Readers young and old will delight in these timeless fables whose unforgettable characters hold up an enchanted mirror that allow us to see ourselves.

Author Biography

The writer known as Aesop was born into slavery in Greece in the seventh century BC. The first edition of his fables was published in 1484. French-born illustrator Ernest Griset spent most of his adult life in London. His artwork appeared in numerous books and periodicals for children and adults, including the long-lived humour magazine Punch. His edition of Aesop's Fables is considered a classic of nineteenth-century illustrated literature.