Aesop’s Fables is a collection of fables credited to Aesop. It is also known as the Aesopica. Aesop was a Greek slave, fabulist and storyteller. It is believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. He is credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables. Although his existence is unclear. No writings by him survive. Numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries. His storytelling tradition is continued till now in many languages. Many of the tales related to him are characterized by humanlike animal characters.
Scattered details of his life can be found in ancient sources such writings of Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch.
George Fyler Townsend (1814–1900)
George Fyler Townsend was a British translator. He translated the standard English edition of Aesop’s Fables.
He was the son of George Townsend. He was also the perpetual curate of St Michael’s, Burleigh Street, Westminster.
Townsend started the practice of stating a brief moral at the conclusion of each story. It is continued to be influential. Several editions were published in his lifetime. In 1860, he published a revised edition of The Arabian Nights.
In 1872, Townsend published a volume entitled ‘The Sea Kings of the Mediterranean’.
It was published under the auspices of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. In this volume, there is an account of the Knights of Malta, from their beginnings up to Townsend’s own time. The dedication is addressed to his ‘Dear Boys’. He adds, ‘in the hope that they will hate all that is low and base, and love all that is noble, great and good.’
Townsend also published ‘The Town and Borough of Leominster’ (Leominster: S. Partridge, and London: Arthur Hall & Co.). It was written about 1861 while he was vicar of Leominster in Herefordshire.
Translation of the Fables of Aesop
George Fyler Townsend translated the fable of Aesop in eight parts.
Note:- Facts have been taken from Wikipedia.
