Among the oldest stories of human civilization, Aesop’s fables are a collection of extended proverbs with moral messages attributed to the Greek slave Aesop, who lived in the fifth century B.C. Children will delight in these basic human truths represented by talking animals and plants, and adults will marvel at the plainspoken language of these ancient tales. This translation by Vernon Jones includes an introduction by G.K. Chesterton and stories such as The Hare and the Tortoise, The Fox and the Grapes, and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.

Aesop’s Fables refers to a collection of fables credited to Aesop (620-560 BC), a slave and storyteller who lived in Ancient Greece. His fables are some of the most well known in the world and remain a popular choice for the moral education of children today. Many stories included in Aesop’s Fables, such as “The Fox and the Grapes” (from which the idiom “sour grapes” was derived), “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The North Wind and the Sun,” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” are well-known throughout the world.

Much of the richness of our language and moral education is owed to a Greek slave who was executed over two thousand years ago. Literally hundreds of metaphors, axioms, and ideas that are woven into the very fabric of Western culture—from “sour grapes” and “crying wolf” to “actions speak louder than words” and “honesty is the best policy”—all came from Aesop’s Fables.

An extraordinary storyteller who used cunning foxes, surly dogs, clever mice, 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.

Included here are such fables as “The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse,” “The Wind and the Sun,” “The Farmer and the Stork,” “The Lioness,” “The Brash Candlelight,” “The Old Woman and the Physician,” “The Mole and Her Mother,” “The Swallow and the Crow,” “The Man Bitten by a Dog,” “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Monkey and the Dolphin,” “The Hares and the Frogs,” and many, many more.

Aesop, an ancient Greek poet who was sold into slavery in the early sixth century BC, relied on animal stories to convey his key points to his masters in court. Aesop’s Fables are classic, memorable morality plays in which amusing animal characters drive home thought-provoking morals to generations of listeners and modern-day audiences. They illustrate what was fundamental to Greek culture, yet their appeal lies in logic we still understand. Translated into countless languages and familiar to people around the world, Aesop’s fables never tarnish despite being told again and again.

Captivating the hearts and minds of kids and adults for generations, Aesop, a former Greek slave, developed simple and meaningful adventures featuring animals or insects to teach a moral standard or lesson for living. The most well-known and well-loved of Aesop’s fables are included here:

• The Hare and the Tortoise
• The Lion and the Mouse
• The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
• The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

This audio edition:

• Is great for children ages 4 – 8
• Perfect for bedtime or listening as a family

11-year-old actor Eden Giuliano presents a brand new line of exciting children’s stories from Icon!
Remember the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper? the Fox and the Sour Grapes? The Boy who Cried Wolf? These wonderful tales and hundreds more have been passed down to us over the centuries. The man credited with writing them, Aesop, was an Ancient Greek slave born about 620 B.C. Aesop is known as a fabulist or story teller credited with a number of fables shining glaringly true light on our human foibles now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables. Although no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems, and generally have human characteristics. Scattered details of Aesop’s life can be found in ancient sources, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch. An ancient literary work called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of his life, including the traditional description of him as a strikingly ugly slave who by his cleverness acquires freedom and becomes an adviser to kings and city-states. A later tradition depicts Aesop as a black Ethiopian. But whatever his history, the fables depict truths about human behavior, our strengths and weakness that have remained true for 2500 years.
We know you will enjoy this very special series from Icon Audio Arts hosted by young Eden Giuliano!
Series Host Eden Giuliano
Series producer Avalon Giuliano in New York
Produced by Alex Franchi in Milan and Geoffrey Giuliano in Delhi
Edited and mixed by Macc Kay in Bangkok
Special thanks to Brandon Stickney and Sanjay Khemani
DEDICATED TO VRNDA DEVI
Music by AudioNautix
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