Jean de La Fontaine

Jean de La Fontaine (UK: , US: ; French: [ʒɑ̃ d(ə) la fɔ̃tɛn]; 8 July 1621 – 13 April 1695) was a 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, as well as in French regional languages.

After a long period of royal suspicion, he was admitted to the Académie Française and his reputation in France has never faded since. Evidence of this is found in the many pictures and statues of the writer, later depictions on medals, coins and postage stamps.

La Fontaine was born at Château-Thierry close to the present-day northeastern edge of Île-de-France (Greater Paris) in France. His father was Charles de La Fontaine, maître des eaux et forêts (a kind of deputy-ranger) of the Duchy of Château-Thierry.