Nei 12 volumi delle “Favole” (1669 – 1693) Jean de La Fontaine rinnovò la tradizione esopica, rappresentando la commedia umana. Quest’opera dimostrò il suo amore per la vita rurale e attraverso animali simbolici ironizzò sulla vita della società dell’epoca. In the 12 volumes/books of “Favole” (1669 – 1693) Jean de La Fontaine renewed Aesop’s tradition, representing the human comedy. This demonstrated his love for country life and by symbolic animals he ironized about his current years society’s life.

Livre 1. Voici le premier livre des Fables de Jean de La Fontaine publié par le fabuliste à l’âge de 47 ans. Inspiré de l’oeuvre du fabuliste grec Ésope, Jean de La Fontaine met en scène les animaux pour mieux décrire les éternels comportements humains. Éternels ? Oui ! Car plus de trois siècles après leur première publication, les lecteurs y reconnaissent la société contemporaine. (de Jean Lambert)

Several of La Fontaine’s fables, translated into English by W. T. Larned.

LibriVox volunteers bring you 8 recordings of The Old Man and the Ass by Jean de La Fontaine. (There was no translator acknowledged in the text.) This was the Weekly Poetry project for July 7, 2013.Jean de La Fontaine was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, and in French regional languages.According to Flaubert, he was the only French poet to understand and master the texture of the French language before Hugo...

This is a short book which collects together 18 charming fables, written in rhyme and intended to be enjoyed by children. Based on stories which were originally written in French by Jean de la Fontaine, these quirky fables are sure to entertain people of all ages.

Voici le douzième et dernier livre des fables de Jean de La Fontaine. Il est, avec le livre huitième, le plus volumineux, comptant 27 fables . Contrairement à ses premiers livres dont les textes sont courts et vifs, ceux de ce dernier livre sont longs et parfois lourds. On sent que le fabuliste désire passer plusieurs messages aux lecteurs, au premier chef, à l'élite sociale et politique de son milieu. Les animaux continuent de tenir la vedette de ces vers où s'épanouissent les travers des hommes. (de Jean Lambert)

Jean de la Fontaine's fables were very well-known all over Europe during his life, and are now slowly being rediscovered. This edition contains 240 fables or fairy tales and a biography of Jean de la Fontaine and Aesop, containing the most well-known fables in existence, as well as some lesser-known fables and stories. Walter Thornbury's translation furthermore sets the fables into memorable rhymes. - Summary by Carolin