Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20

"Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 20" by Jean de La Fontaine is a compilation of stories from 17th-century France that uses wit to reveal human weaknesses. Through tales like "The Devil in Hell," where a young woman's quest for holiness leads her to encounter a deceitful hermit, and "Neighbor Peter's Mare," which follows a rector’s magical attempt to help a couple that hilariously goes awry, La Fontaine exposes the follies of desire and the pretense of virtue. These narratives, filled with engaging characters and clever ironies, provide both amusement and insight into the complicated aspects of morality and society. The volume showcases La Fontaine's skill in crafting memorable stories that use irony to show the inconsistencies between what people say and what they do.