
audiobook
by Aesop, Robert Dodsley
BEWICK’S SELECT FABLES.
PREFACE TO 1871 EDITION.
THE LIFE OF ÆSOP.
AN ESSAY UPON FABLE.
FABLES, &c.
Part II. FABLES, with Reflections.
Part III. FABLES, in Verse.
THE INDEX.
A compact anthology gathers Aesop’s timeless tales alongside lesser‑known fables, arranged in three sections: classic selections drawn from earlier collections, stories followed by thoughtful reflections in both prose and verse, and a final suite presented entirely in poetry. Each narrative is concise yet vivid, using animal characters and simple plots to reveal universal lessons about pride, generosity, folly and wisdom. The volume opens with a brief biography of Aesop, setting the stage for the moral imagination that runs through the whole work.
What makes this edition especially charming are the original wood‑engravings of Thomas Bewick, whose delicate lines bring the creatures and countryside to life with surprising detail. Complementing the pictures, Oliver Goldsmith’s introductory essay explains the power of fable as a gentle teacher of virtue. Listeners will find a blend of entertainment and insight, perfect for a quiet moment of reflection.
Full title
Bewick's Select Fables of Æsop and others. In three parts. 1. Fables extracted from Dodsley's. 2. Fables with reflections in prose and verse. 3. Fables in verse. In three parts. 1. Fables extracted from Dodsley's. 2. Fables with reflections in prose and verse. 3. Fables in verse.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (340K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2019-12-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

Best known through the timeless animal tales that carry his name, this legendary Greek storyteller has shaped moral storytelling for more than two thousand years. Even though the facts of his life are uncertain, the fables linked to him still feel sharp, funny, and surprisingly modern.
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1703–1764
An influential voice in 18th-century literary London, he rose from humble beginnings to become a bookseller, publisher, poet, and playwright. His shop and publishing work helped shape the careers of major writers including Samuel Johnson, Alexander Pope, Thomas Gray, and Oliver Goldsmith.
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