My thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for an ARC of this title.

Although not originally penned for children, Aesop’s famed fables have been used since their earliest circulation as a source of moral education. They were included in the earliest primary and Sunday school readers as public education developed. I don’t know if children are still exposed to these stories, of which there are too many editions to count, including those specifically made child-friendly. For me, a baby boom kid, they have long been a favourite that I remember from my earliest reading. My children and grandchildren have enjoyed their own copies.

This most recent compilation is actually a fresh translation by Robin Waterfield, a leading British classicist, translator, and writer and an expert on Aesop (who may not be a real historical figure, as he notes) It is not aimed at children either. But it’s not overlain with the kind of scholarly language that would make it a slog for those less schooled in the subject. It is a rich and beautiful book that features a selection of 400 (of about 700 fables attributed to Aesop), many with repeat characters, themes and morals. This is exactly how our ancestors socialized the young, and remains the primary technique for early childhood education—the repetition of simple lessons through stories they can relate to, or that spark the imagination. Some of those reprinted here are not suitable for bedtime reading aloud, but that is true of most ‘children’s literature’ until very recently—like the ‘fairy tales’ of the brothers Grimm. The point was not how the story was recounted, but the underlying moral.

Waterfield’s introduction and contextualization are models for how to go about it. He summarizes what is known about Aesop and his fables while adding new interpretations and insights drawn from his own scholarship and that of others.

In my view, this is a book that belongs on every shelf, whether you are new to the fables or happily revisiting them.

In a Nutshell: A compilation of 400 of Aesop's fables, with a scholarly introduction to the same by the author. Interesting to classic fable readers but gets repetitive if you read it at a go.

One of the first books in my life was a tiny little paperback collection of Aesop's Fables purchased from the school book fair. I had read my copy so many times during my childhood that it soon lost its binding cover. Seeing this collection was a journey into nostalgia land, the time of simple stories with important-sounding morals.

The first edition of Aesop’s fables in English was printed in as early as 1484! Aesop was a non-Greek slave who lived somewhere in Greece in the mid-6th century. It is impossible to know if he indeed was the author of all the fables attributed to him. As the introductory note says, “Just as authorship of numerous medical treatises that he certainly never wrote was attributed to Hippocrates, so any and all fables became ascribed to Aesop; the Greeks had a habit of doing this kind of thing.” Either way, Aesop was the pioneer responsible for making the fable widely known.

I'm sure all of us have read/heard at least a few of Aesop's stories. We might not know that he was the person behind the tales, but we do know the content. The Hare and the Tortoise, The Thirsty Crow, The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse, Who Will Bell the Cat, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Lion and the Mouse... All these common childhood tales come from Aesop’s collection. He is said to have narrated/collected about 700 fables. 400 of those stories are in this book.

The tagline - “A New Translation” – is used because the author is a translator as well, and he has opted for a fresh translation of the fables from the original language, aiming for close fidelity to the native texts with readable, modern English.

The book begins with a detailed note by the author, introducing to us a brief history of Aesop's times, his life (or more accurately, modern guesstimates about his life), and his stories. It also contains a rather extensive and complicated analysis of the origin, purpose, and structure of fables, including why animals are commonly protagonists of fables. The author is a literary scholar and his writing is clearly aimed at literary-minded adult readers. While I started reading this section with interest, the length and the textbook-style writing soon made it somewhat tedious. But the author himself says, readers are free to skip the notes and jump straight to the fables.

The stories themselves are good, if you know what to expect from Aesop: pithy writing, allegorical content, life lessons. A massive chunk of the stories (306 out of 400, about 70% of the book) contains animal fables. The rest have human and godly characters in the lead.

The 400 fables are divided into sections based not on theme but on the main character. While I initially thought this to be a good organising method, I soon realised that this created much saturation while reading, especially when the section was about one specific animal such as fox or lion rather than a more generic “Animals at Work” or “Larger Mammals.” Reading 20 stories in a row about a wolf, for instance, means that the stories soon blend into each other.

A majority of the fables have an appended moral written in italics. I'm slightly unsure if the moral was penned by Aesop himself or added by the author because the differing tone and the breaking of the fourth wall was a bit confusing. Some of the morals left me stumped; no way I would have guessed THAT as the moral of the story. Unfortunately, many of the morals sounded the same after a point. This made the reading experience somewhat boring. It’s not like I was expecting 400 morals from 400 stories, but getting the same message time and again felt highly redundant.

Some of the stories *might* work as bedtime reads for children, but do be careful about which one you pick for such readalouds. Not all the tales are meant for children’s ears. (I was stunned to learn that Aesop’s stories were not originally written for children, and some tales even covered themes such as rape or incest.)

All in all, this didn’t exactly go as I had planned. Maybe some books are best left in childhood memories. But I can’t deny the effort put into this modern translation that clearly stays true to the soul of the original fables.

Recommended to those interested in fables and their history or in allegorical stories. Better if read at random than cover to cover.

3 stars.

My thanks to Basic Books for providing the DRC of “Aesop's Fables: A New Translation” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The fables were interesting enough. The book is definitely not meant to be read straight through in one or two sittings. It's better read in bits and pieces.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The star rating is not a reflection on the translation in any way.

I guess the difficulty with Aesop is that he is believed to have been an exceptionally ugly slave who seemed to think that we should simply accept our lot in life and not question our "betters".

Some of the Fables are well known but others were a bit of a revelation. Suffice to say I didn't find a lot of them particularly useful for today's society and the less said about the ones regarding homosexuality the better.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Basic Books for the advance review copy.

I have already read Aesop's fables several times throughout my life, and as a student in classics I tend to focus less on the fables themselves and more on the translation and how it varies from previous ones. I think this particular translation by Waterfield really keeps the charm of the original without sacrificing modernity. As is unavoidable with collections of fables, there is redundancy but that is not really Waterfield's fault. I'm not sure how I feel about the commentary though; I do like that the fables make you draw your own conclusions and morals. I really appreciated the further readings section though.

Monotonous fables that lack thoughtful prose and vibrant messages. Uninspiring commonplace of virtue ethics. Redundant with demoralizing narration. Stoic and intrinsic in nature. Ventures within wisdom in a forthright manner. Subtly is placed sparingly. Illuminates a morality in humanity. Exhibits a crisp memory of studious curiosity. Recommended for those versed in morals and allegories. Overall, a mediocre read. "Evil exists on earth as a result of malice, which rejoices when others suffer undeservedly, and in its folly gleefully desires to harm itself as well."

I used to read these as a child, and I was eager to return to them in this edition. There were many I felt were unfamiliar to me, and for good reason would not have been amongst those I read when younger. A shame, really, that more were not as I recall and I wonder if this is a result of translation, memory or just new stories. I may never know.

I requested this for nostalgia’s sake. I had a beautiful illustrated copy as a child and fondly remember reading the stories. This was great for bringing me back to those memories. It was what it was, but I felt a little underwhelmed overall.

I had a beautiful illustrated collectible copy of Aesop's Fables as a child, so I was excited to get into them as an adult. I did not realize that the fables in my children's copy were not shortened just for children. I only found out after reading this new translation that the original fables are not detailed, and that they are already short stories (if even that, since many of them are only a paragraph each). Additionally, a few of the fables were uncomfortably crude. I find it disturbing that a man decided that these should be included in his compilation.

I read Aesop's fables a long long time ago. This was a lovely reading of stories that are good stories, lessons and reminiscent of our childhood. I enjoyed this book.

I have actually never read any of Aesop's fables myself only heard them retold by Grandma's and in school so it was actually really lovely to read them myself.

What a delightful new volume of Aesops fables. It is such a long time since I read them last, it is like reconnecting with an old friend.

A new beautiful retelling of beloved aesop fables. This book will remind you of many lessons some that you may have forgotten and some you may remember clearly.

The story that never gets old. I love not only the new translation but also the new category of the story. We can learn a lot from fables, which kids and adults both can enjoy.
It's lovely to revisit some stories and freshen the memory. I truly enjoy my time reading through the story.
Thank you, Net Galley, for providing digital ARC to Aesop's Fables.

Thanks to Waterfield's efforts, a list of Aesop's fables is categorized into groups based on the characters they feature, allowing you to easily sense patterns with messages and meanings associated with each animal or animal group and what messages or values are highly sought-after based on the frequency of reappearances. Waterfield's commentary emphasises the fables' messages, all centred around virtue ethics. The new translation also allows you to appreciate the comedicness and charm of these fables. My main gripe, though this may be more with Aesop (if he's even real, as Waterfield posited), is that many stories have the same message featuring one or more of the same set of animals or beings. Redundancy has its place in aiding recall and creating emphasis, but there may be too many within this collection to retain my interest the whole way through. Otherwise, a commendable effort.

Thanks to Netgalley and Basic Books for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me so nostalgic and took me back to my childhood.

Me and my brother are avid readers, have been since we were children. Have always been I don't even remember since how long. In India we get Panchatantra which we can say is india's version of fables which are as old as 200 BCE.

It always amazes me how the literature lasts ages and ages and become ageless and imperishable. The reason is why I love classics.

The translation of Aesop's fables was good.. There are about 400 short stories and all have something to offer, something to teach us.

Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley and basic books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

In Robin Waterfield's new translation of Aesop's Fables, readers are presented with a comprehensive collection of 400 timeless narratives. Departing from the simplistic renditions often prevalent in children's literature, Waterfield's interpretation delves deeper, uncovering the enduring wisdom inherent in these tales.

Reflecting on my initial encounter with Aesop's Fables during childhood, I am reminded of these stories' profound impact on shaping my moral compass. The principles of honesty, kindness, and perseverance instilled by these fables have persisted into my adult life, guiding me through the complexities of modern society.

This collection of 400 tales offers readers a window into the past. By contextualizing the fables within the ancient Mediterranean milieu, Waterfield provides invaluable insights into the cultural ethos and ethical values of the time.

Their moral teachings remain as relevant today as they were centuries ago. In a contemporary world often fraught with moral ambiguity, Aesop's timeless wisdom serves as a beacon, illuminating the virtues of integrity, compassion, and humility and guaranteeing their enduring resonance for future generations.

My thanks to Basic Books and NetGalley for granting this e-ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Aesop's Fables: A New Translation" by Robin Waterfield breathes new life into the ancient and timeless tales that have been a cornerstone of moral education for centuries. Waterfield, a renowned scholar, presents a collection that is both faithful to the spirit of Aesop's original narratives and refreshingly modern in its clarity.

The fables, known for their simplicity and depth, are presented with a new layer of nuance that invites readers to delve deeper into the allegories. The translation is crisp and accessible, making the wisdom of Aesop available to a contemporary audience without losing the charm and wit that have made these stories beloved around the world.

I do enjoy fables, especially from ancient Greece, so I know I would enjoy this book.

However, I found that a lot of the fables were related, but with different characters involved. This actually bored me somewhat, and made it difficult to read. My other critique is the explanations of the fables. I agree with some of the meanings behind them, and although I appreciate the authors translation, I prefer to come to my own conclusion.

I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.

Every library should contain a book of Aesop's Fables. Everyone I know has read at least a few of the fables and found them so good that they share with friends and family. This volume contains 400 of the family favorites. They bring back memories of reading when I was young and discovering reading for pleasure. This is an excellent gift to yourself or someone you love. Build your new memories today.