Charles Perrault

Born in Paris in 1628, Charles Perrault was trained in law and moved in influential literary and political circles before becoming famous for his writing. He lived during the reign of Louis XIV and took part in major cultural debates of his time, while also building a reputation as a man of letters.

Perrault is remembered above all for the collection now known in English as Tales of Mother Goose. In it, he gave enduring literary versions of stories such as Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Bluebeard, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. Those retellings helped turn folktale material into a recognized literary genre and became the basis for countless later adaptations.

Although his stories are often associated with childhood, Perrault wrote for a broader audience and often included pointed morals, humor, and sharp observations about society. More than three centuries after his death in 1703, his work still shapes how many readers imagine the fairy tale itself.