Fables for Our Time

Fables for Our Time is a collection of stories by American writer and cartoonist James Thurber, first published in 1940. These fables, while charming in style, offer a clear-sighted examination of human flaws and follies. Thurber's work often features his signature characters: the domineering wife, her ineffectual husband, and observant animals.

The tradition of fables dates back to ancient India and the Mediterranean, with figures like Aesop being central to the Western tradition. Fables typically use animal characters to convey moral lessons, a form that evolved through various literary periods and was notably advanced by writers like Jean de La Fontaine in the 17th century. Thurber's contribution revitalized the genre for a modern, adult audience, though his fables can also be appreciated by children.123