See Also: La Fontaine, Jean de(encyclopedia)
Pierre A La Fontaine Gaillon(tourism)
jean(dictionary)
Arp, Jean(encyclopedia)
Stahli, Jean(medicine)
Tinguely, Jean(encyclopedia)
Fouquet, Jean(encyclopedia)
Froissart, Jean(encyclopedia)
Gabin, Jean(encyclopedia)
Genet, Jean(encyclopedia)

La Fontaine, Jean de (sh)




born July 8?, 1621, Chateau-Thierry, France
died April 13, 1695, Paris

French poet.

He made important contacts in Paris, where he was able to attract patrons and spend his most productive years as a writer. He is best known for his Fables (1668-94), which rank among the masterpieces of French literature. Comprising some 240 poems, they include timeless tales about simple countryfolk, heroes of Greek mythology, and the familiar animals of fables. Their chief theme is the everyday moral experience of humankind. His many lesser works include The Loves of Cupid and Psyche (1669), notable for its lucid, elegant prose. He was elected to the Academie Fran?aise in 1683.