George Fyler Townsend
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Reverend George Fyler Townsend (1814-1900) was the translator of the standard English edition of Aesop's Fables.
Although there are more modern collections and translations, Townsend's volume of 350 fables introduced the practice of stating a succinct moral at the conclusion of each story, and continues to be influential. Several editions were published in his lifetime, and others since.
In 1860, Townsend also published a revised edition of The Arabian Nights.
At an unknown date, Townsend published, under the auspices of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a volume entitled 'The Sea Kings of the Mediterranean'. This is an account of the Knights of Malta, from their beginnings up to Townsend's own time. The dedication is addressed to his 'Dear Boys', 'in the hope that they will hate all that is low and base, and love all that is noble, great and good.' One wonders if he and Baden-Powell ever met, and if so, what they made of each other.
