Fable is one of the most interesting genres of world literature. From ancient times to the present, fabulists have sought to convey moral points through tales which typically involve animals. This text presents a guide to the subject, covering major works, characters and situations as well as the genre's creators, collectors and illustrators. The book includes a listing of the world's most prominent fables; biographies of famous fabulists, adapters and translators; and definitions of terms such as wisdom lore, allegorical proverb, Horatian fables and griot. M.E. Snodgrass also discusses cycles of fables, such as Anansi the spider; the impact of fables on children's literary classics such as Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit and the books of Dr Seuss; and fables as a component of storytelling, drama, fiction and cinema.
