"Forty Modern Fables" by George Ade presents readers with a collection of contemporary fables that offer witty and insightful commentary on human behavior and society. The stories, written in a satirical and humorous style, provide modern twists on traditional fables, using animals and characters to convey moral lessons and social observations. George Ade's fables delve into a range of themes, such as ambition, greed, vanity, and the follies of human nature. Through clever storytelling and relatable scenarios, the author offers readers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of life in the modern world. In each fable, Ade presents characters and situations that mirror real-life scenarios, often exposing the absurdities and contradictions of contemporary society. The stories encourage readers to reflect on their own actions and choices, while simultaneously entertaining them with clever wordplay and humor. "Forty Modern Fables" serves as a creative and engaging platform for readers to consider timeless moral lessons in the context of modern life. George Ade's collection invites readers to laugh, ponder, and gain insights into human behavior through the lens of these satirical and imaginative tales.

This collection of pithy, brilliantly acerbic pieces is a companion to Sixty Stories, Barthelme's earlier retrospective volume. Barthelme spotlights the idiosyncratic, haughty, sometimes downright ludicrous behavior of human beings, but it is style rather than content which takes precedence.