Fantastic Fables

audiobook

Fantastic Fables

by Ambrose Bierce

EN·~2 hours·186 chapters

Chapters

186 total
1

Aesopus Emendatus

1:16
2

Old Saws with New Teeth

0:30
3

Transcribed from the 1899 G. P. Putnam’s Sons edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

4:13
4

The Moral Principle and the Material Interest...

0:55
5

The Crimson Candle

0:45
6

The Blotted Escutcheon and the Soiled Ermine

0:51
7

The Ingenious Patriot

1:54
8

Two Kings

0:33
9

An Officer and a Thug

0:44
10

The Conscientious Official

0:45

Description

A lively anthology of bite‑sized stories, this collection gathers a hundred‑plus fables that twist classic animals and everyday characters into sharp, often sardonic lessons. From prowling wolves and clever foxes to reluctant kings and obstinate politicians, each tale spins a quick, self‑contained scenario that reveals the gap between intention and outcome. The narrator’s wry voice invites listeners to pause and smile at the absurdities of human nature, while the moral at the close offers a gentle nudge toward reflection.

The pieces vary in tone, ranging from playful humor to darker, more cynical observations, yet all share a crisp, almost journalistic precision. Whether it’s the cat that outsmarts a youth, the farmer who learns from his wayward sons, or the ever‑watchful lion confronting a humble boar, the stories feel both timeless and freshly relevant. Listeners will find themselves humming the moral of each fable long after the final line fades.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~2 hours (162K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

1995-12-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce

1842–1913

Best known for sharp, unsettling tales and the wicked humor of The Devil's Dictionary, this American writer turned war experience into fiction that still feels eerie and modern. His mysterious disappearance in Mexico only deepened the legend around him.

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