Awakening Aesop: The Fables Revisted

Abstract

Here is one of the more curious items in our collection. It is a personalized publication, including a protective cover, with my address, and a dedication page offering pictures of me small and large and "Thank You Aesop For Giving Us Such Wonderful Fables!" Two introductory pages present "Aesop: The Legend"; "The Fables"; and "The Illustrator." The middle section concludes with this statement: "These fables have not been sleeping, but the 'awakening' will be our own intelligent response to them." Bravo! A T of C presents then four fables: SW; CP; TB; and "The Fox and the Woodman." Each story has its own title-page. Then each left-hand page of story text has an elaborate initial and a corresponding right-hand full-page illustration with an appropriate title at its lower edge. SW is told in the poorer form. The travelers in TB are pictured as Native Americans. A quick search suggests that the texts are from Thomas James in his 1848 edition illustrated by John Tenniel. I cooperated in the construction of this book by sending my picture and the dedication line.