Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 04

"Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 04" by Jean de La Fontaine is a collection of tales written during the 17th century. This volume contains a series of engaging stories that explore themes of love, jealousy, and human folly through fables and narratives, capturing the complexities of relationships among its characters. The tales often include moral lessons and critiques of societal norms, making it a rich commentary on the human condition. In this volume, La Fontaine presents four distinct stories. "The Old Man's Calendar" depicts a jealous and age-discrepant marriage, showcasing the disconnect between love and obligation when the young wife is captivated by a pirate instead of her elderly husband. "The Avaricious Wife and Tricking Gallant" illustrates the extremes of greed as a married woman is tricked by a smooth-talking lover while her husband is blissfully unaware of her infidelity. "The Jealous Husband" unpacks the perils of excessive jealousy, as a husband’s paranoia drives him to absurd lengths in an attempt to control his wife's life. Finally, "The Gascon Punished" tells a humorous tale where a boastful man learns a lesson in humility through a cleverly devised plan that exposes his cowardice. Throughout, La Fontaine's wit and insight remain sharp, providing readers with both entertainment and thoughtful reflections on humanity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jean de La Fontaine 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.