Jean de La Fontaine - The Master of Fables

Jean de La Fontaine was a French fabulist and one of the greatest literary humorists of all time. He was born in 1621 in Château-Thierry, France and was the author of a number of fables that have been retold countless times over the centuries.

La Fontaine was known for his wit and humor, and his fables often featured talking animals that provided a satirical commentary on human nature. His stories were captivating, amusing, and insightful, making him a beloved figure in French literature.

Most of La Fontaine’s fables were written during the later part of his life. It was as if he had been saving up all of his best material for his golden years. The stories he told were timeless, and although they were written centuries ago, they still bring joy to readers today.

One of his most famous fables is “The Tortoise and the Hare.” In this tale, a hare challenges a tortoise to a race. The hare, confident in his abilities, takes a long nap during the race while the tortoise slowly but steadily moves ahead. In the end, the tortoise wins the race, proving that slow and steady does indeed win the race.

La Fontaine also had a great sense of humor, which often made its way into his fables. For example, in “The Wolf and the Lamb,” a wolf accuses a lamb of muddying the water he was trying to drink even though the lamb was downstream. The wolf’s reasoning is so ridiculous that it is impossible not to laugh.

La Fontaine was not afraid to poke fun at social conventions and the aristocracy. He was known for his witty and irreverent comments, which earned him both many fans and many enemies.

In his later years, La Fontaine suffered from poor health and spent much of his time writing fables. Despite his health problems, he continued to produce stories that were both humorous and insightful until his death in 1695.

Today, La Fontaine is remembered as one of the greatest literary humorists of all time. His fables continue to be enjoyed by readers of all ages and have been translated into countless languages. For anyone who loves a good laugh and a bit of philosophical insight, La Fontaine’s fables are a must-read.