Jean de la Fontaine

Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695) was a renowned French poet and fabulist, best known for his Fables which are considered masterpieces of French literature. Born in Château-Thierry, he was educated in rhetoric and grammar and became a prominent literary figure in 17th-century France, associated with notable contemporaries and patrons. He was admitted to the Académie Française in 1684 after some opposition due to his unconventional character.