Aesop's Fables Illustrated (Leather-bound Classics) - Hardcover

Aesop

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1667211579 ISBN 13: 9781667211572

Publisher: Canterbury Classics, 2025

Synopsis

This illustrated collection includes hundreds of fables—timeless tales that have influenced our world for centuries.

For more than 2,500 years, Aesop's Fables has shaped how we understand human nature, morality, and wisdom. This elegant leather-bound volume brings together 487 complete fables—the most comprehensive collection available—featuring beloved tales like "The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs," "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," and "The Hare and the Tortoise."

Attributed to Aesop, a Greek storyteller who lived around 620–564 BCE, these enchanting animal fables were passed down through oral tradition for centuries before being preserved in writing. Their profound moral lessons have become woven into the fabric of our culture, influencing countless writers, thinkers, and generations of readers.

What Makes This Edition Special:

• 487 complete fables in one beautifully bound volume.
• Over 100 stunning illustrations by celebrated artists Arthur Rackham and Walter Crane.
• Scholarly introduction exploring Aesop's life, legacy, and the oral storytelling tradition.
• Premium leather binding perfect for collectors and gift-giving.
• Stories that speak to readers of all ages.

Whether you're rediscovering childhood favorites or encountering these tales for the first time, this definitive collection offers timeless insights into virtue, folly, and the human condition. A treasured addition to any library and an heirloom to pass down through generations.

About this title

About the Authors

Aesop was a fabulist or story teller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains uncertain and (if they ever existed) 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.

Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was a British illustrator.

Walter Crane (1845–1915) was an English artist, book illustrator, and one of the most influential children’s book creators of his generation. Crane produced not only paintings and illustrations for children's books, but also ceramic tiles and other decorative arts. From 1859 to 1862, Crane was apprenticed to wood-engraver William James Linton and had the opportunity to study works by many contemporary artists, including Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

Ken Mondschein is a college professor, scholar, fencing master, jouster, and author with expertise in subjects ranging from medieval history to contemporary politics. He was a Fulbright scholar to France, received his PhD in history from Fordham University and is certified as a master of historical fencing by the US Fencing Coaches' Association. His work includes history, fencing, introductions to works of classic literature, and other projects.

Edition details

• Publisher: Canterbury Classics
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1667211579
• ISBN 13: 9781667211572
• Binding: Leather Bound
• Illustrator: Rackham Arthur, Crane Walter
• Number of pages: 432