Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20 is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for La Fontaine, Jean de (1621–1695).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20" by Jean de La Fontaine is a collection of fables and narratives written during the 17th century, a time characterized by the Baroque period in French literature. This volume features intriguing moral tales, including "The Devil in Hell" and "Neighbor Peter's Mare," which encompass themes of folly, desire, and the complexities of human nature. La Fontaine is renowned for his ability to weave moral lessons into engaging narratives often featuring animals or everyday characters. In "The Devil in Hell," the story revolves around a naïve maiden named Alibech who desires to be a saint and seeks guidance from a hermit, Rustick. However, rather than leading her to sanctity, he exploits her innocence for his own desires, highlighting the hypocrisy of those who profess holiness while succumbing to sin. The narrative culminates in Alibech unwittingly participating in an act meant to “shut the Devil in Hell,” which becomes a comedic reflection on human folly and the pretense of piety. Meanwhile, "Neighbor Peter's Mare" tells the tale of a rustic rector, John, who offers to magically transform Peter's wife into a mare to improve their life; however, the plan humorously backfires when Peter's curiosity and reluctance to follow instructions interfere. Both stories encapsulate La Fontaine's wit and social critique, revealing the often duplicitous nature of desire and morality.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20
- Author credits: La Fontaine, Jean de (1621–1695)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Fables, French -- Translations into English
- French poetry -- Translations into English
Gutenberg collections
- Category: French Literature
- Category: Short Stories
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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