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“After the 32nd chapter of Treasure Island, two of the puppets strolled out to have a pipe before business should begin again, and met in an open place not far from the story …”

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So begins “The Persons of the Tale”, where Captain Smollett and Long John Silver, resting between chapters, discuss existence, morality, and what the Author might intend—a suitably arch and angled introduction to Robert Louis Stevenson’s twenty Fables. Published after Stevenson’s death, these strange little stories offer what the author called “tail foremost moralities”. Peculiar and provocative, graceful, funny, sometimes eerie, and always beautiful, Stevenson’s Fables are true masterpieces of art, wit, and style.

Contents

Frontispiece
Introduction
I. The Persons of the Tale
II. The Sinking Ship
III. The Two Matches
IV. The Sick Man and the Fireman
V. The Devil and the Innkeeper
VI. The Penitent
VII. The Yellow Paint
VIII. The House of Eld
IX. The Four Reformers
X. The Man and His Friend
XI. The Reader
XII. The Citizen and the Traveller
XIII. The Distinguished Stranger
XIV. The Cart-Horses and the Saddle-Horse
XV. The Tadpole and the Frog
XVI. Something In It
XVII. Faith, Half Faith, and No Faith At All
XVIII. The Touchstone
XIX. The Poor Thing
XX. The Song of the MorrowCover image from an illustration by Gwen Adair

With thanks to Måns Grebäck for the Signerica font