author
François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
1651–1715
A French archbishop, teacher, and writer, he is best remembered today for The Adventures of Telemachus, a work that carried his ideas on education, morals, and political leadership far beyond the church. His life also placed him at the center of major religious debates in the court of Louis XIV.
5 Audiobooks
Fenelon's Treatise on the Education of Daughters Translated from the French, and Adapted to English Readers
by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
Les aventures de Télémaque suivies des aventures d'Aristonoüs
by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
Lettre à Louis XIV
by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
The Existence of God
by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
Las aventuras de Telémaco seguidas de las de Aristonoo
by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon
About the author
Born on August 6, 1651, in Périgord, François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon became one of the most notable French churchmen and men of letters of his age. He entered the clergy, joined the Sulpician tradition, and later rose to become archbishop of Cambrai.
Fénelon was admired for his gifts as a preacher, educator, and spiritual writer. He served as tutor to the Duke of Burgundy, grandson of Louis XIV, and his views on education and government shaped his most famous book, The Adventures of Telemachus, first published in 1699. The book’s blend of storytelling, moral reflection, and political thought helped give it a long life with readers.
His career was also marked by controversy. His support for ideas associated with mystical prayer brought him into conflict with powerful figures in church and state, yet his writings continued to be valued for their grace, humanity, and moral seriousness. He died at Cambrai on January 7, 1715.