Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20

In this lively volume, listeners are treated to a playful moral tale that skewers both piety and human folly. The story follows a young, innocent girl named Alibech, who leaves her home to pursue a life of saintly devotion. She encounters a seasoned hermit who promises to guide her, offering a mix of earnest advice and mischievous intrigue that quickly turns the quest for holiness into a comic dance of temptation and wit. The narrator’s sharp, rhymed prose captures the satire of religious pretension while keeping the tone light and entertaining.

The companion piece, “Neighbor Peter’s Mare,” shifts to a rustic countryside setting where a simple farmer’s horse becomes the centre of a series of amusing misunderstandings. As Peter tries to protect his prized mare from gossip and greed, the tale unfolds with clever twists that expose the vanity and envy of the village folk. La Fontaine’s signature blend of humor and moral insight makes the episode both a chuckle‑filled anecdote and a subtle reminder about the perils of possessiveness.