Aesop was probably a prisoner of war, sold into slavery in the early sixth century BC, who represented his masters in court and negotiations, and relied on animal stories to put across his key points. All these fables, full of humour, insight and savage wit, as well as many fascinating glimpses of ordinary life, have now been brought together for the first time in this definitive and fully annotated modern edition.

About the Author

AESOP probably lived in the middle part of the sixth century BC. A statement in Herodotus gives grounds for thinking that he was a slave. OLIVIA TEMPLE is a figurative painter, a director of several private companies, and has also written articles and reviews for a variety of magazines. ROBERT TEMPLE is the author of eight books, and has published several articles about the scientific works of Aristotle. He is also a television drama producer.