For thousands of years, professional Chinese storytellers have delighted listeners with tales about values such as honesty, respect, courage and self-reliance. Chinese Fables collects nineteen popular tales, many of them dating back to the third century BCE, and retells them in contemporary English (but with a subtle shade of antiquity) for a modern audience. These concise tales share a sense of Chinese culture and myth as they express--with great humor and affection--the foibles and wisdom of human nature. And although the lessons they teach are universal, their wit and flavor are uniquely Chinese.