Aesop’s Fables

“A lively and colloquial translation of the fables.”

“A new translation by Robin Waterfield of some four hundred tales presents the rich world of Aesopian fable in full color, reminding us of the too-often-dismissed sway they still hold over the Western imagination.”

“Waterfield does a superb job translating and annotating 400 of [the fables].”

“Robin Waterfield’s Aesop’s Fables: A New Translation renders them in all their feral and fatalistic glory – bursts of Hobbesian asperity with dubious, sometimes conflicting morals… Bringing the fables into ‘readable modern English,’ Waterfield has given them a freshness and a frankness that makes them all the more discomfiting.”

“Highly successful… [a] wholly enjoyable selection.”

“While Aesop’s world may seem simpler than our own, his fables reveal layers of political nuance and literary sophistication. Waterfield’s translation breathes new life into 400 of these classic tales, providing fresh insights and thoughtful annotations that underscore their lasting relevance. This is an essential collection for readers who cherish the intersection of simplicity and wisdom.”

“Robin Waterfield’s faithful, clear, and endlessly readable new translation of Aesop’s Fables is a buffet of the wild, weird, hilarious, and profound. What a joy to encounter these fables as an adult, aware of their place in our ancient and collective history and in awe of their incredible resonances thousands of years later.”

“Robin Waterfield's new annotated translation contains 400 of Aesop's fables, in beautifully clear English, which provide a treasure house of ancient moral wisdom and curious tales.”