Why they call him 'father of fairy tales'?
We know him as the man who wrote some of the most popular fairy tales of all time. He actually didn't write them from scratch but based on the old fables and stories based on folk motifs.
He gave red color to the cap of The Little Red Riding Hood, he set a spindle to Sleeping Beauty and he put glass slippers on the feet of Cinderella, although all these characters were invented before his time.
But who cares? Charles Perrault was the man who wrote fairy tales in a new, better organized and modern style and gave them moral values. Most of these values we still expect in fairy tales, although some of them came from very different places and times as we live now.
In some way, we can say Perrault is a father of the written fairy tale.
We know him as the man who wrote some of the most popular fairy tales of all time. He actually didn't write them from scratch but based on the old fables and stories based on folk motifs.
He gave red color to the cap of The Little Red Riding Hood, he set a spindle to Sleeping Beauty and he put glass slippers on the feet of Cinderella, although all these characters were invented before his time.
But who cares? Charles Perrault was the man who wrote fairy tales in a new, better organized and modern style and gave them moral values. Most of these values we still expect in fairy tales, although some of them came from very different places and times as we live now.
In some way, we can say Perrault is a father of the written fairy tale.
Short Biography
Charles Perrault was born on 12th January 1628 in Paris, France as a seventh child in a middle-class family. We can say he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth because his father was a successful lawyer and a member of Parliament.
Family Perrault was affluent but they were not nobility, so certain positions were still out of reach for them. Charles' father Pierre believed the single most important key to success in society was education and he paid it for all of his five sons (view on education for girls was pretty different in 17th century, of course). Pierre has spent many evenings checking the acquired knowledge of his sons and demanding to summarize it in Latin.
Charles followed the steps of his father and started the study of the law (just like brothers Grimm will do almost two centuries later). Although he remembered these drills with sympathy in his autobiography he dropped from school at 15 years of age because he thought teachers were unfair to him. So he prepared for exams mostly by himself. He passed them and had worked in a law office for three years before he became a secretary to his brother Pierre who bought himself a position of a tax collector in Paris.
This move opened many exciting opportunities for young Charles Perrault.
Charles Perrault was born on 12th January 1628 in Paris, France as a seventh child in a middle-class family. We can say he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth because his father was a successful lawyer and a member of Parliament.
Family Perrault was affluent but they were not nobility, so certain positions were still out of reach for them. Charles' father Pierre believed the single most important key to success in society was education and he paid it for all of his five sons (view on education for girls was pretty different in 17th century, of course). Pierre has spent many evenings checking the acquired knowledge of his sons and demanding to summarize it in Latin.
Charles followed the steps of his father and started the study of the law (just like brothers Grimm will do almost two centuries later). Although he remembered these drills with sympathy in his autobiography he dropped from school at 15 years of age because he thought teachers were unfair to him. So he prepared for exams mostly by himself. He passed them and had worked in a law office for three years before he became a secretary to his brother Pierre who bought himself a position of a tax collector in Paris.
This move opened many exciting opportunities for young Charles Perrault.
A poet and a government officer
Job at his brother was easy and Charles had plenty of time enjoying in astonishing library and he also used it to coin romantic verses.
Job at his brother was easy and Charles had plenty of time enjoying an astonishing library. He also spent it to coin some romantic verses.
He showed his work to a family friend and already established poet Philippe Quinault who used them to court a lady telling her he wrote the poems by himself.
When Charles found out Quinault presented Perrault's poems as his own, he was angry of course, but not for long, because Quinault admitted he did that because of the lady. Love is the best excuse, right?
Perrault's sophistication was even more evident when he supervised the construction of Pierre's house. When finance minister Jean Baptiste Colbert saw the result, he appointed him as his secretary. From this position, one of the most important ones in the state, he got access to many business ventures, including designing a new section in Louvre, the king's palace.
Charles proved again blood is thicker than water and helped his brother Claude to get the job despite the fact his main competitor was famous Italian designer Lorenzo Bernini and Claude Perrault was a physician by the first profession!
Charles Perrault stayed in privileged government services for the next twenty years...
Labyrinth in Versailles
Job at his brother was easy and Charles had plenty of time enjoying in astonishing library and he also used it to coin romantic verses.
Job at his brother was easy and Charles had plenty of time enjoying an astonishing library. He also spent it to coin some romantic verses.
He showed his work to a family friend and already established poet Philippe Quinault who used them to court a lady telling her he wrote the poems by himself.
When Charles found out Quinault presented Perrault's poems as his own, he was angry of course, but not for long, because Quinault admitted he did that because of the lady. Love is the best excuse, right?
Perrault's sophistication was even more evident when he supervised the construction of Pierre's house. When finance minister Jean Baptiste Colbert saw the result, he appointed him as his secretary. From this position, one of the most important ones in the state, he got access to many business ventures, including designing a new section in Louvre, the king's palace.
Charles proved again blood is thicker than water and helped his brother Claude to get the job despite the fact his main competitor was famous Italian designer Lorenzo Bernini and Claude Perrault was a physician by the first profession!
Charles Perrault stayed in privileged government services for the next twenty years...
Labyrinth in Versailles
One of the typical projects of Louis XIV was a labyrinth in the garden of his most famous palace Versailles. Andre Le Notre was an architect but Perrault was the one who suggested to plan it as a tribute to Aesop's fables (rewritten by La Fontaine) and a didactic toy for king's oldest son.
In 1668 Jean de La Fontaine published his fables based on Aesop's and dedicated them to then six-year-old heir to the throne. This probably gave an idea to Perrault and the labyrinth was indeed designed with 39 scenes from Aesop's fables, each with at least one fountain and water representing words coming out of the characters' mouths.
They built it for five years and the labyrinth survived one full century before being replaced with much cheaper arboretum by Louis XVI. Charles Perrault wrote a guide through the labyrinth too.
He did great things for kids before he had his own and way before he wrote his first fairy tale
In 1668 Jean de La Fontaine published his fables based on Aesop's and dedicated them to then six-year-old heir to the throne. This probably gave an idea to Perrault and the labyrinth was indeed designed with 39 scenes from Aesop's fables, each with at least one fountain and water representing words coming out of the characters' mouths.
They built it for five years and the labyrinth survived one full century before being replaced with much cheaper arboretum by Louis XVI. Charles Perrault wrote a guide through the labyrinth too.
He did great things for kids before he had his own and way before he wrote his first fairy tale
- Did you know Tuileries Garden, king's garden near Louvre, was opened to the public on request of Charles Perrault in 1667?
- He justified his claim with words: 'King's garden is made so spacious that all their (talking about king demanded the use of plural) children can walk-in'.
- Only people who were not welcome in Tuileries were beggars, soldiers, and servants.
As we can read in Perrault's autobiography mister Colbert once asked him about the news from Academy and was surprised when he found out he is not a member of 'The Immortals'. Colbert told him he should apply when the next place is vacant and Perrault did that.
There can be only 40 members in the French Academy at once and a place for a new member in most cases becomes available only when one of the 40 members, called Immortals - dies. Well, in history were some other reasons to make a place vacant, including theft and collaboration with the enemy, but for this article is most important Charles Perrault was elected and later apparently even invented some kind of the balloting machine for electing new members.
This position was another important step in his career and although we will never know for sure, it was probably more earned through his powerful connections in state administration than his quality of writings. Many famous authors never became members and this includes Balzac, Descartes, Flaubert, Moliere, Proust, Sartre, and Zola. They didn't achieve this kind of immortality for different reasons but they have something in common.
None of them had so powerful protector as Charles Perrault - Minister of finance as de facto the most influential man in France, in many aspects even more important than the king himself.
This position was another important step in his career and although we will never know for sure, it was probably more earned through his powerful connections in state administration than his quality of writings. Many famous authors never became members and this includes Balzac, Descartes, Flaubert, Moliere, Proust, Sartre, and Zola. They didn't achieve this kind of immortality for different reasons but they have something in common.
None of them had so powerful protector as Charles Perrault - Minister of finance as de facto the most influential man in France, in many aspects even more important than the king himself.
Colbert wasn't very happy when Charles Perrault married 25 years younger woman. This was a start of cooling off in their relationships.
Perrault's private life
When he was already 44 years old, Charles Perrault married Marie Guichon, who was only 19 years old.
She died only six years later after the birth of their fourth child. Several years later, when he was forced to retire from government services, Perrault decided to devote his time to the education of his daughter and three sons.
How Perrault have fallen out of favor
Charles' brother was a tax collector and Colbert was a finance minister. Conflict of interest was to expect and Charles lost a lot of Colbert's sympathies too.
In 1682 Colbert gave some Perrault's positions to his son marquis d'Ormoy and Perrault was forced into retirement. After Colbert's death one year later Charles Perrault lost other prestigious and well-payed positions. He finally used some time for his writings.
This includes the famous quarrel between ancients and moderns.
Perrault's private life
When he was already 44 years old, Charles Perrault married Marie Guichon, who was only 19 years old.
She died only six years later after the birth of their fourth child. Several years later, when he was forced to retire from government services, Perrault decided to devote his time to the education of his daughter and three sons.
How Perrault have fallen out of favor
Charles' brother was a tax collector and Colbert was a finance minister. Conflict of interest was to expect and Charles lost a lot of Colbert's sympathies too.
In 1682 Colbert gave some Perrault's positions to his son marquis d'Ormoy and Perrault was forced into retirement. After Colbert's death one year later Charles Perrault lost other prestigious and well-payed positions. He finally used some time for his writings.
This includes the famous quarrel between ancients and moderns.
Ancients against Moderns: A Literary Debate or a Quarrel?
In 1674 Philippe Quinault (we have already mentioned how he was 'stealing' Perrault's verses to charm a lady) wrote Alcest, a libretto for tragic opera. Alcest was attacked from traditionalists and Perrault wrote a text in defense of his longtime friend's work. It was one of the first clashes of views between artists who praised ancient masters from old Greece and Rome and more open liberal authors who claimed work of modern authors can be at least equal if not better.
The group lead by Nicolas Boileau and including Jean de La Fontaine and Jean Racine argued that modern authors can only try to repeat what great masters from antiquity already achieved. They were called Ancients.
The group around Perrault was called Moderns and Perrault himself wrote Homer would be a much better poet if he was so lucky to be born under the regime of Louis XIV. The most famous text on this subject is his essay titled The Century of Louis the Great in 1687. Perrault wrote it in praise of the glory of the king who was recovering after a dangerous operation.
Well, the debate shook the Academy but nothing critical happened. Both sides made peace after decades of disagreement, sometimes also called The Battle of the Books.
Probably most important is this ironic fact: the most famous work of Perrault is a collection of fairy tales, largely based on traditional folk stories and famous fables.
In 1674 Philippe Quinault (we have already mentioned how he was 'stealing' Perrault's verses to charm a lady) wrote Alcest, a libretto for tragic opera. Alcest was attacked from traditionalists and Perrault wrote a text in defense of his longtime friend's work. It was one of the first clashes of views between artists who praised ancient masters from old Greece and Rome and more open liberal authors who claimed work of modern authors can be at least equal if not better.
The group lead by Nicolas Boileau and including Jean de La Fontaine and Jean Racine argued that modern authors can only try to repeat what great masters from antiquity already achieved. They were called Ancients.
The group around Perrault was called Moderns and Perrault himself wrote Homer would be a much better poet if he was so lucky to be born under the regime of Louis XIV. The most famous text on this subject is his essay titled The Century of Louis the Great in 1687. Perrault wrote it in praise of the glory of the king who was recovering after a dangerous operation.
Well, the debate shook the Academy but nothing critical happened. Both sides made peace after decades of disagreement, sometimes also called The Battle of the Books.
Probably most important is this ironic fact: the most famous work of Perrault is a collection of fairy tales, largely based on traditional folk stories and famous fables.
In 1691 Perrault published first of his three fairy tales in verse. They all were negatively criticized.
Today most known of them is Donkeyskin, which is familiar only to true enthusiasts. Real success came with the book titled Tales of Stories of the past (Histoires ou Contes du Temps passe) with eight fairy tales in prose. It was published in 1697 when Perrault was already 69 years old!
He published it under the name of his youngest son Pierre. The reason for this was probably the fear of more negative reactions from the Ancients.
This book of fairy tales was first official cultivation of rough and superstitious stories, some known from the folk tradition and some borrowed from authors from previous centuries (namely: Bocaccio, Basile, and Straparola). Charles Perrault wrote them for an extremely demanding audience (king's court), spoiled from decades of superior achievements in literature, music and other areas of art.
Plots of all stories were known before Perrault was even born, but he was the one who has written them in modern literary form, added poetic descriptions and transformed them to present certain morals.
The book later became known under its subtitle Tales of Mother Goose and gave Perrault's the right to be called: father of the fairy tale.
Today most known of them is Donkeyskin, which is familiar only to true enthusiasts. Real success came with the book titled Tales of Stories of the past (Histoires ou Contes du Temps passe) with eight fairy tales in prose. It was published in 1697 when Perrault was already 69 years old!
He published it under the name of his youngest son Pierre. The reason for this was probably the fear of more negative reactions from the Ancients.
This book of fairy tales was first official cultivation of rough and superstitious stories, some known from the folk tradition and some borrowed from authors from previous centuries (namely: Bocaccio, Basile, and Straparola). Charles Perrault wrote them for an extremely demanding audience (king's court), spoiled from decades of superior achievements in literature, music and other areas of art.
Plots of all stories were known before Perrault was even born, but he was the one who has written them in modern literary form, added poetic descriptions and transformed them to present certain morals.
The book later became known under its subtitle Tales of Mother Goose and gave Perrault's the right to be called: father of the fairy tale.
Charles Perrault didn't write for children!
We should know all his writings, including fairy tales aimed at intellectuals and nobility.
Although his views could be considered as reactionary, they were very liberal for 17th century!
Most popular Perrault's fairy tales
Here is a list:
Yes, a lot of material for further studies... So don't hesitate to explore other pages in this site and share them with your friends!
Here is a list:
- Puss in Boots: This is one of Perrault's 'signature' fairy tales. Puss in Boots is a story about a cat, who helps his owner, poor miller's son, to not only gain wealth but also social status coming through the marriage with a real princess. They both need only a pair of boots and a lot of trickery!
- Cinderella: Perrault gave her famous glass slippers, the coach made from a pumpkin and a virtue of forgiving. In his version, her stepsisters get married in the end together with Cinderella. And they were all beautiful... If this differs from your recollection of the story, you should probably thank Disney.
- Bluebeard (sometimes Blue Beard): This is a story about a mass murderer. Today it is not considered as appropriate for kids, but a few centuries ago Bluebeard (illlustrated of course) was published in lullaby collections. Times changed, I guess.
- Little Red Riding Hood: There is no hunter in Perrault's version. When a wolf eats the girl, the story ends. This supposed to have educational value and it probably does. The consolation effect was out of the question. Red Riding Hood with a hunter was already known before, but she wasn't wearing a red hood.
- Sleeping Beauty in the Woods: This is a well-known story of Sleeping Beauty. It doesn't have known folk roots, although some myths can be related to this story. Perrault probably took Basile's Sun, Moon and Talia and added fantastic elements from older versions. Prince, who 'rescues' (in fact he took advantage of her deep sleep) the princess has ogress for mother and she coins a plan to eat her daughter-in-law with both grandchildren.
- Little Thumb: We know this fairy tale mostly from fairy tales of Brothers Grimm. It is titled Hansel and Gretel there. The main differences: in Little Thumb woodcutter have seven kids (born only three years apart!), all boys, their enemy is an ogre, not a witch, and they were abandoned by their parents, not by a stepmother and a father.
Yes, a lot of material for further studies... So don't hesitate to explore other pages in this site and share them with your friends!