Aesop & Company

Abstract

The most reflective Aesop to appear for some time. An excellent introduction offers the results of careful scholarship. One question there lies in the statement that the life accompanied the fables throughout the middle ages (10). Her history of Aesopic fable reaches out to Locke, Lincoln, the Japanese, and native Americans. Working from Perry, Daly, and others, Bader is careful in telling the fables and drawing morals. The moral of TH is Steady effort gains more than talent that isn't used (18). FG begins Back in the days when foxes ate grapes.... (22). The moral to BC is Easier said than done (28). The ant's last line to grasshopper is Sing now and see what it will get you (30). Also well told: FK (38) and The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass (54). With such a good text, the art is disappointing. Though working from good ideas (e.g., on 35 and 41) and nicely juxtaposing town and country, people and animals, Geisert chooses a style and a color that seem to take the life out of the fables. The book's subtitle may mislead: the appendix tells Aesop's life but repeats illustrations of fables from earlier in the book.