The Whale and the Grasshopper, and Other Fables

audiobook

The Whale and the Grasshopper, and Other Fables

by Seumas O'Brien

EN·~4 hours·21 chapters

Chapters

21 total

The Whale and the Grasshopper

12:25

The House in the Valley

11:05

Peace and War

8:49

The Valley of the Dead

13:46

The King of Montobewlo

15:29

The Dilemma of Matty the Goat

34:24

Ham and Eggs

16:00

The White Horse of Banba

18:30

Rebellions

6:19

Kings and Commoners

11:29

Description

A breezy, rambling conversation sets the tone for this quirky collection of fables, beginning with Padna Dan and Micus Pat wandering through a sun‑lit Irish town. Their banter weaves satire and folk wisdom, poking fun at social hierarchies, gender mores, and the absurdities of everyday life. The story then drifts to a solitary beach where a melancholy grasshopper meets a philosophizing whale, launching a whimsical debate about grief, mortality and the quirks of human nature.

Each tale unfolds with the same blend of gentle humor and thoughtful observation, inviting listeners to linger over the characters’ oddball perspectives. The fables feel like miniature parables, offering reflections on generosity, love, and the strange logic that governs both village gossip and the wider world. The tone remains light yet incisive, making the collection a charming companion for anyone who enjoys a clever twist on classic storytelling.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~4 hours (282K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Release date

Sep 3, 2011

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Seumas O'Brien

Seumas O'Brien

b. 1880

An Irish-born dramatist, fabulist, and sculptor, this early 20th-century writer moved easily between literature and visual art. His best-known books include The Whale and the Grasshopper and Duty, and Other Irish Comedies, works that reflect both storytelling wit and a feel for the stage.

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