Charles Perrault
A 17th-century French civil servant who, in his late sixties, penned the definitive versions of stories like Cinderella, forever shaping global childhood.
1628–1703 (age 75)·French author·Birthday: January 12
Biography
Charles Perrault, born in Paris in 1628, lived a life of high bourgeois achievement long before he ever wrote about glass slippers. A lawyer by training, he was a formidable intellectual who rose to become a senior official under King Louis XIV, helping to oversee the construction of the Louvre and Versailles. He was a central figure in the 'Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns', fiercely arguing that the artists of his own age could rival those of classical antiquity. It was only after his official retirement, in his late sixties, that he produced the work that would immortalize him. In 1697, he published 'Histoires ou contes du temps passé' (Stories or Tales of Times Past), a slender volume attributed to his son Pierre. Within it were polished, literary versions of stories he had collected from French folk tradition. With a wit and elegance that belied their sometimes dark origins, Perrault gave the world the canonical texts of 'Little Red Riding Hood', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Cinderella', and 'Puss in Boots'. In doing so, he didn't just record fairy tales; he invented them as a literary genre for adults, embedding them with subtle morals and a distinctly Parisian sophistication.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1628
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1628Born
1633Started school
1641Became a teenager
1644Could drive
1646Could vote
1649Turned 21
1658Turned 30
1668Turned 40
1678Turned 50
1688Turned 60
1698Turned 70
1703Died at 75
Key Achievements
- He published 'Histoires ou contes du temps passé' in 1697, establishing the literary fairy tale as a recognized genre.
- He was elected to the Académie Française in 1671 for his contributions to literature and intellectual debate.
- He served as the first clerk of the Petite Académie, a precursor to the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres.
- His version of 'Cinderella' introduced key elements like the fairy godmother and the glass slipper to the story.
Did You Know?
The original French title of his famous collection is subtitled 'Contes de ma mère l'Oye' (Tales of Mother Goose).
He initially published his fairy tales under the name of his son, Pierre Perrault d'Armancour.
Before his fairy tales, he wrote a popular verse parody of classical epic poetry called 'The Walls of Troy'.
He held the powerful position of controller general of the Surintendance des Bâtiments du Roi, overseeing royal buildings.
“Patience and time do more than strength or passion.”
