Charles Perrault

Charles Perrault was a pivotal figure in French literature, born on January 12, 1628, in Paris, France. He hailed from a wealthy bourgeois family and was well-educated, studying law and working in various governmental roles, including serving as the secretary to the finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Perrault was an influential member of the Académie Française and played a significant role in the famous 'Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns,' advocating for modern literature's merits over classical works. His most enduring literary contribution is his collection 'Histoires ou contes du temps passé' (Stories or Tales of Past Times), published in 1697. This collection included timeless fairytales like 'Cinderella,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' and 'Little Red Riding Hood,' which have become staples of Western folklore. Perrault's ability to weave moral lessons into enchanting narratives laid the foundation for the modern fairytale genre.