Poet. His father was government official. Young Jean was sent to Paris to study medicine and theology but he drawn it because religion bored him. During 1647 he returned home and assisted his father as lawyer. Same year he married Marie Hericart but this marriage was unhappy and they separated. La Fontaine then decided become a famous writer. He spent his time in literary circles with Moliere. One of his patrons Nicolas Fouquet managed to La Fontaine small pension with easy terms: he had to write only four poems in a year. La Fontaine wrote one of his most beautiful poems, asking mercy for his former patron when Fouquet was imprisoned. To avoid arrest, La Fontaine left Paris and spent some time in Limousin, from where he wrote letters to his wife. In 1683 he was elected to the French Academy in recognition of his contribution to French literature. La Fontaine's fables were marked by his love of rural life and belief in ethical hedonism. They were widely translated and imitated during the XVII and XVIII centuries all over Europe. Some of his major works are "Tales and News," "Love of Psyche and Cupid" and "Selected Fables," usually called "La Fontaine Fables."
Poet. His father was government official. Young Jean was sent to Paris to study medicine and theology but he drawn it because religion bored him. During 1647 he returned home and assisted his father as lawyer. Same year he married Marie Hericart but this marriage was unhappy and they separated. La Fontaine then decided become a famous writer. He spent his time in literary circles with Moliere. One of his patrons Nicolas Fouquet managed to La Fontaine small pension with easy terms: he had to write only four poems in a year. La Fontaine wrote one of his most beautiful poems, asking mercy for his former patron when Fouquet was imprisoned. To avoid arrest, La Fontaine left Paris and spent some time in Limousin, from where he wrote letters to his wife. In 1683 he was elected to the French Academy in recognition of his contribution to French literature. La Fontaine's fables were marked by his love of rural life and belief in ethical hedonism. They were widely translated and imitated during the XVII and XVIII centuries all over Europe. Some of his major works are "Tales and News," "Love of Psyche and Cupid" and "Selected Fables," usually called "La Fontaine Fables."
Bio by: Jelena
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