Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks

From the French of La Fontaine

Translated by W. T. Larned · Illustrated by John Rae

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"Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks" by Jean de La Fontaine is a collection of fables published between 1668 and 1694. La Fontaine adapted tales from classical sources like Aesop and Eastern traditions, transforming them into French verse across 239 fables. Originally aimed at sophisticated adult audiences, these humorous and ironical stories became educational classics for French schoolchildren. The fables offer keen insights into human nature through animal characters, with their pointed morals and artful storytelling making them enduring fixtures of French literature across generations.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.