Fables
Robert Louis Stevenson, Carol Pentleton
Paperback
(CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, April 26, 2010)
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. "Good-morning, Cap'n," said the first, with a man-o'-war salute, and a beaming countenance. "Ah, Silver!" grunted the other. "You're in a bad way, Silver." "Now, Cap'n Smollett," remonstrated Silver, "dooty is dooty, as I knows, and none better; but we're off dooty now; and I can't see no call to keep up the morality business." The "morality business," in fact, fascinated best-selling author Robert Louis Stevenson, in the form of the fable. This singular collection of modern, humanist fables was written over many years by Stevenson, and provides some fascinating insights into the author's thinking. The tales are, by turns, entertaining, thought-provoking, and, often, as perplexing as any Buddhist koan.