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Jean de La Fontaine (c. July 8, 1621 - April 13, 1695), French poet, was born at Château-Thierry in Champagne.

His Fables of animals and everyday life are masterworks of French literature and took their inspiration from Aesop, Horace, and ancient Indian literature, such as the Panchatantra:

"This is the second book of fables that I present to the public... I must acknowledge that the greatest part is inspired by Pilpay, the Indian sage." ("Je dirai par reconnaissance que j’en dois la plus grande partie à Pilpay sage indien.") — Jean de La Fontaine, Avertissement to the Second Compilation of Fables (1678).

The first collection of 124 Fables Choisies had appeared March 31, 1668, wisely dedicated to "Monseigneur" Louis, the Grand Dauphin, the six-year-old son of Louis XIV of France and his Queen consort Maria Theresa of Spain.

The Fables were choice in every sense: utterly correct, balanced, choice in rhyme, natural and easy, droll, witty, knowing, sage, utterly French. They were an immediate success. Until recently, well-educated French people could quote hundreds of lines from La Fontaine. A set of postage stamps celebrating La Fontaine and the Fables was issued by France in 1995.

At intervals through the rest of his life, new editions with more Fables appeared. The last edition came out in 1693. In 1683 he became a member of the Académie française. He died in Paris, and is interred at Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Works

• Fables
  • The Monkey and the Cat

Further reading

• Poet and the King: Jean De La Fontaine and His Century by Marc Fumaroli, Jean Marie Todd (Transl.) Pub. U. of Notre Dame; ISBN 0268038775; (May 2002)
• Fifty Fables of La Fontaine by Jean De La Fontaine, Pub. U. of Ill.; ISBN 0252066499; (September 1997)

External link

• Works by Jean de La Fontaine at Project Gutenberg
• http://www.lafontaine.net/ - extensive information and works online
• Biography, Analysis (in French)

Preceded by: Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Seat 24 Académie française 1684-1695

Succeeded by: Jules de Clérambault

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