Complete Aesop's Fables I (English-Chinese Parallel Illustrated Edition)

Author: (Ancient Greek) Aesop
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Aesop's Fables have been passed down for over two thousand years with numerous versions. Common selected editions typically include around three hundred fables. The China Foreign Languages Publishing House compiled this collection based on the collection by Reverend George F. Townsend (1814-1900), which includes the most fables currently known, numbering four hundred and five. Some fables have the same titles but similar content, yet they originate from different versions, and the lessons they convey differ. They are included in this book for completeness, and comparing them can also be quite interesting. Historically, Aesop may have existed, but the Aesop's Fables were not necessarily all his works. They are actually action stories from his time or before and after, attributed to his name and passed down to this day. The world regards them as classics, offering profound insights. For details on their dissemination, please refer to the preface of Reverend Townsend's collection (which is also the preface of this book). Additionally, it includes Reverend Townsend's account of Aesop's life, for the readers' reference. Most Aesop's Fables selected editions, both domestically and internationally, have been revised and adapted multiple times, some of which have completely changed their identities and evolved into children's stories. This book strives to preserve the original, polished simplicity of the Aesop's Fables, whether in language or illustrations, aiming for authenticity. This is also the purpose behind publishing this bilingual edition.