While little is actually known about the life of the Greek slave named Aesop, his delightful fables are known the world over. Aesop's charming tales are filled with humor, insight, and wit. They champion the value of hard work and perseverance, compassion for others, and honesty. For thousands of years readers have savored these delectable morsels of wisdom, reading them over and over again. Aesop's wisdom is part of the fabric from which western civilization itself has been cut. Who hasn't used the phrases "honesty is the best policy" or "don't count your chickens before they hatch" or "necessity is the mother of invention" or "look before you leap." Who couldn't retell the story of The Fox and the Grapes, The Tortoise and the Hare, The North Wind and the Sun and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This extensive volume includes over 280 of Aesop's most beloved stories beautifully brought to life by illustrator Arthur Rackham's more than 70 illustrations.