Jean de La Fontaine

Born in Château-Thierry, France, on July 8, 1621, Jean de La Fontaine became one of the most widely read poets of the French classical age. He is remembered above all for the Fables, published in several collections between 1668 and 1694, which reworked ancient and traditional stories into elegant, lively verse.

La Fontaine spent much of his career under the protection of powerful patrons in Paris, which gave him the freedom to write poetry, tales, and prose as well as fables. His work is admired for its graceful style and its ability to speak to both children and adults at once: animals may do the talking, but the targets are often vanity, ambition, foolishness, and the habits of society.

He died in Paris on April 13, 1695, but his writing never faded from view. The Fables became a foundation of French literature and education, and many of their lines, characters, and lessons still feel fresh today.