One of the most iconic texts in Western civilization. This exclusive Signet Classic edition contains 203 of Aesop's most enduring and popular fables, translated into readable, modern American English and beautifully illustrated with classic woodcuts by the great French artist J. J. Grandville. It is both amazing and wonderful that so much of the richness of our language and our moral education still owes a huge debt to a Greek slave who was executed more than two thousand years ago. Yet "sour grapes," "crying 'wolf,'" "actions speak louder than words," "honesty is the best policy," and literally hundreds of other metaphors, axioms, and ideas that are now woven into the very fabric of Western culture all came from Aesop's Fables. An extraordinary storyteller who used cunning foxes, surly dogs, clever mice, fearsome lions, and foolish humans to describe the reality of a harsh world, Aesop created narratives that are appealing, funny, politically astute, and profoundly true. And Aesop's truth-often summed up in the pithy "moral of the story"-retains an awesome power to affect us, reaching us through both our intellects and our hearts. Including- "The Fox and the Grapes" "The Ants and the Grasshopper" "The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse" ...and 200 Other Famous Fables Edited and with an Afterword by Jack Zipes With an Introduction by Sam Pickering

Table of Contents:
Aesop's FablesA Note on the Text and Illustrations Introduction I. The Fox and the Grapes II. The Wolf and the Crane III. The Archer and the Lion IV. The Woman and the Fat Hen V. The Kid and the Wolf VI. The Hawk and the Pigeons VII. The Eagle and the Fox VIII. The Boy and the Scorpion IX. The Fox and the Goat X. The Old Hound XI. The Ants and the Grasshopper XII. The Fawn and Her Mother XIII. The Horse and the Groom XIV. The Mountain in Labor XV. The Flies and the Honey Jar XVI. The Two Bags XVII. The Vain Crow XVIII. The Wolf and the Lamb XIX. The Bear and the Fox XX. The Dog, the Cock and the Fox XXI. The Cock and the Jewel XXII. The Sea Gull and the Hawk XXIII. The Fox and the Lion XXIV. The Creaking Wheels XXV. The Frog and the Ox XXVI. The Farmer and the Snake XXVII. The Lion and the Fox XXVIII. The Fisherman and His Music XXIX. The Domesticated Dog and the Wolf XXX. The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse XXXI. The Dog and the Shadow XXXII. The Moon and Her Mother XXXIII. The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle XXXIV. The Man and the Satyr XXXV. The Tortoise and the Eagle XXXVI. The Mule XXXVII. The Hen and the Cat XXXVIII. The Old Woman and the Wine Bottle XXXIX. The Hare and the Tortoise XL. The Ass and the Grasshopper XLI. The Lamb and the Camel XLII. The Crab and Its Mother XLIII. Jupiter and the Camel XLIV. The Mouse and the Frog XLV. The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf XLVI. The Peach, the Apple, and the Blackberry XLVII. The Hare and the Hound XLVIII. The Stag in the Ox Stall XLIX. The Crow and the Pitcher L. The Lion and the Mouse LI. The One-Eyed Doe LII. The Trees and the Ax LIII. The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox Who Went Hunting LIV. The Travelers and the Bear LV. The Belly and the Members LVI. The Dolphins and the Sprat LVII. The Blind Man and the Whelp LVIII. The Sick Stag LIX. Hercules and the Wagoner LX. The Fox and the Woodcutter LXI. The Monkey and the Camel LXII. The Dove and the Crow LXIII. The Ass and the Lap Dog LXIV. The Hares and the Frogs LXV. The Fisherman and the Little Fish LXVI. The Wind and the Sun LXVII. The Farmer and the Stork LXVIII. The Lioness LXIX. The Brash Candlelight LXX. The Old Woman and the Physician LXXI. The Charcoal-Burner and the Cloth-Fuller LXXII. The Wolf and the Sheep LXXIII. The Farmer and His Sons LXXIV. The Wolves and the Sheep LXXV. The Mole and Her Mother LXXVI. The Swallow and the Crow LXXVII. The Man Bitten by a Dog LXXVIII. The Man and the Lion LXXIX. The Monkey and the Dolphin LXXXI. The Viper and the File LXXXII. The Bundle of Sticks LXXXIII. Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus LXXXIV. The Lion in Love LXXXV. The Nurse and the Wolf LXXXVI. The Birdcatcher and the Lark LXXXVII. Jupiter and the Bee LXXXVIII. The Travelers and the Plane Tree LXXXIX. The Fox Without a Tail XC. The Horse and the Stag XCI. The Mischievous Dog XCII. The Geese and the Cranes XCIII. The Quack Frog XCIV. Mercury and the Woodcutter XCV. The Oxen and the Butchers XCVI. The Goatherd and the Goats XCVII. The Widow and the Sheep XCVIII. The Marriage of the Sun XCIX. The Theif and His Mother C. The Gnat and the Bull CI. The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox CII. The Oak and the Reed CIII. The Dog in the Manger CIV. The Goose with the Golden Eggs CV. The Lion and the Dolphin CVI. The Comedian and the Farmer CVII. The Dog Invited to Supper CVIII. The Ass Loaded with Salt CIX. The Theif and the Dog CX. The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner CXI. The Hunter and the Fisherman CXII. The Fir Tree and the Bramble CXIII. The Eagle and the Arrow CXIV. The Two Pets CXV. The Fisherman and Troubled Water CXVI. The Lark and Her Young Ones CXVII. The Arab and the Camel CXVIII. The Travelers and the Hatchet CXIX. The Doctor and His Patient CXX. The Maid and the Pail of Milk CXXI. The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion CXXII. The Ass and His Driver CXXIII. The Travelers and the Hatchet CXXIV. The Hedge and the Vineyard CXXV. The Frogs Who Desired a King CXXVI. The Lion and the Goat CXXVII. The Mice in Council CXXVIII. The Fox and the Mask CXXIX. The Thirsty Pigeon CXXX. The Farmer and the Cranes CXXXI. The Falconer and the Partridge CXXXII. The Cat and the Mice CXXXIII. The Father and His Two Daughters CXXXIV. The Heifer and the Ox CXXXV. The Fox and the Hedgehog CXXXVI. The Lion and the Ass CXXXVII. The Bald Knight CXXXVIII. The Ass and His Masters CXXXIX. The Farmer and the Sea CXL. The Hart and the Vine CXLI. The Pig and the Sheep CXLII. The Bull and the Goat CXLIII. The Old Man and Death CXLIV. The Dog and the Hare CXLV. The Boy and the Hazel Nuts CXLVI. The Wolf and the Shepherd CXLVII. The Jackass and the Statue CXLVIII. The Blacksmith and His Dog CXLIX. The Herdsman and the Lost Calf CL. The Lion and the Other Beasts Who Went Out Hunting CLI. The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp CLII. The Kid and the Piping Ass CLIII. The Stallion and the Ass CLIV. The Mice and the Weasels CLV. The Stubborn Goat and the Goatherd CLVI. The Boys and the Frogs CLVII. The Mouse and the Weasel CLVIII. The Farmer and the Lion CLIX. The Horse and the Loaded Ass CLX. The Wolf and the Lion CLXI. The Farmer and the Dogs CLXII. The Eagle and the Crow CLXIII. The Lion and His Three Councillors CLXIV. The Great and Little Fish CLXV. The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion CLXVI. The Wolf and the Goat CLXVII. The Fox and the Stork CLXVIII. The Leopard and the Fox CLXIX. The Vine and the Goat CLXX. The Sick Lion CLXXI. The Rivers and the Sea CLXXII. The Blackamoor CLXXIII. The Boy and the Nettle CLXXIV. The Seaside Travelers CLXXV. The Boy Who Went Swimming CLXXVI. The Sick Hawk CLXXVII. The Monkey and the Fisherman CLXXVIII. Venus and the Cat CLXXIX. The Three Tradesmen CLXXX. The Ass's Shadow CLXXXI. The Eagle and the Beetle CLXXXII. The Lion and the Three Bulls CLXXXIII. The Old Woman and Her Maids CLXXXIV. The Dogs and the Hides CLXXXV. The Dove and the Ant CLXXXVI. The Old Lion CLXXXVII. The Wolf and the Shepherds CLXXXVIII. The Ass in the Lion's Skin CLXXXIX. The Swallow in Chancery CXC. The Raven and the Swan CXCI. The Wild Boar and the Fox CXCII. The Stag at the Pool CXCIII. The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing CXCIV. The Boasting Traveler CXCV. The Man and his Two Wives CXCVI. The Shepherd and the Sea CXCVII. The Miser CXCVIII. Mercury and the Sculptor CXCIX. The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass CC. The Wolf and the Horse CCI. The Astronomer CCII. The Hunter and the Woodcutter CCIII. The Fox and the Crow Afterword Selected Bibliography Index