Cover of The Tales of Mother Goose

The Tales of Mother Goose

by Charles Perrault

First published
1675
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free

About the book

"The Tales of Mother Goose" by Charles Perrault is a collection of literary fairy tales published in 1697. Written for aristocratic audiences in Parisian literary salons, this work transformed simple folk plots into elaborate stories suited for French court tastes. The collection includes eight now-classic tales, each concluding with a cynical moral. Perrault crafted these stories after retiring from royal service, blending ancient narratives with modern sensibilities while reflecting themes of nobility, class distinction, and Catholic values that resonated with his sophisticated readers.

  • Fairy tales
  • Children's stories, French

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #17208. The Tales of Mother Goose on Wikipedia.

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