La Fontaine publishes the first books of his Fables
What happened
In 1668, Jean de La Fontaine published the first six books of his Fables. Drawing on Aesop and other traditions, he recast animal tales in elegant French verse. The collection combined moral reflection, social observation and polished wit.
Literary impact
La Fontaine revitalised fable as a sophisticated poetic form for adults as well as children. His flexible verse, irony and social intelligence influenced European moral poetry, children's literature and political allegory.
Source: Wikipedia
