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Charles Perrault

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Charles Perrault was a very important writer from France.

Charles Perrault02
Charles Perrault02

He is most famous for creating a new kind of story. We call this new style a fairy tale. In 1697, he published a book called "Histoires ou contes du temps passé." Many people know this book as the "Tales of Mother Goose." These stories were based on old folk tales from Europe. Perrault changed how people tell these magical stories. He is often called the founder of the modern fairy tale.

\n\nPerrault wrote many stories that people still love today. You might know "Cinderella" or "Sleeping Beauty." He also wrote "Puss in Boots" and "Little Red Riding Hood."

He liked to add details from the real world. For example, he used the Chateau Ussé for his "Sleeping Beauty" story. He also used the Marquis of the Château d'Oiron as a model for "Puss in Boots." He even added fashion details to his tales. Each story ended with a lesson called a moral. In "Little Red Riding Hood," he warned girls about dangerous strangers. He said that some wolves can seem very gentle and kind.

Charles Perrault02
Charles Perrault02

\n\nPerrault had a very busy life in the 17th century. He was born in Paris on 12 January 1628. He was the seventh child of Pierre Perrault and Paqueta Le Clerc. He studied law and worked for the government. He even helped start the Academy of Sciences. In 1663, he became the secretary for the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres. He worked closely with Jean Baptiste Colbert, who was a minister for King Louis XIV.

Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924
Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924

\n\nHe was a leader in a big debate about art. This was called the "Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns." Perrault was a leader of the "Moderns" group. He believed that the literature of his own time was better. He argued that modern French writing was superior to ancient works. He wrote books like "Le Siècle de Louis le Grand" to prove this. This book celebrated the King's recovery from a very serious operation.

Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924
Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924

\n\nPerrault's influence can still be seen in many places. His versions of stories helped the Brothers Grimm much later. The Brothers Grimm published their own versions over 100 years after Perrault. Today, his tales are used in movies and many other ways. Even Google honored him with a special doodle in 2016. This doodle showed characters from his famous Mother Goose tales. His work truly changed the way we enjoy stories.

Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924
Charles Perrault - Versailles MV 2924
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File:Page 133 illustration from Fairy tales of Charles Perrault (Clarke, 1922).png
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