The Tales

Charles Perrault (1628–1703) was a French author, lawyer, and high-ranking civil servant who is widely recognized as the founder of the modern fairy tale genre. His work transformed oral folk traditions into sophisticated literary narratives, establishing the structural and thematic conventions that continue to define children's literature today.

Born in Paris to a wealthy bourgeois family, Perrault initially practiced law before becoming a trusted advisor to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the finance minister for King Louis XIV. He was an influential member of the Academie Francaise and a leader in the Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns, a major intellectual debate of the late 17th century. Perrault argued that modern French culture was superior to the classical traditions of Greece and Rome, a belief that led him to find artistic value in local folklore.

In 1697, he published his most famous collection under the name of his son, Pierre Darmancour, to maintain his standing as a serious academic while exploring popular storytelling. These tales were written for the sophisticated audience of the French royal court, blending magical elements with moral lessons and social commentary. His ability to elevate simple oral stories into enduring literary classics influenced generations of writers and collectors, ensuring his place as one of the most significant figures in European literary history.

Essential Reading

• Les Contes (1697): This foundational collection, often referred to as the Tales of Mother Goose, introduced the definitive versions of stories like Cinderella, Puss in Boots, and Sleeping Beauty.
• The Parallel of the Ancients and the Moderns (1688–1697): A comprehensive four-volume work where Perrault defends the progress of contemporary arts and sciences against those who favored classical antiquity.
• The Age of Louis the Great (1687): A controversial poem that sparked a decade-long literary debate by asserting that the achievements of the 17th century surpassed the glory of the Roman Empire.