
The Whale and the Grasshopper
The House in the Valley
Peace and War
The Valley of the Dead
The King of Montobewlo
The Dilemma of Matty the Goat
Ham and Eggs
The White Horse of Banba
Rebellions
Kings and Commoners
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.
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.
Subjects

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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