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Which famous French writers knew Jean de La Fontaine?
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Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine, oil painting by François De Troy; in the Bibliothèque Publique et Universitaire, Geneva
Jean de La Fontaine was a prominent figure in the literary circles of 17th-century France. While legends have sometimes exaggerated the intimacy of his relationships, he was certainly friends and acquaintances with several notable writers of his time, including:
Beyond these specific contemporaries, La Fontaine frequented salons—such as the celebrated household of Mme de La Sablière—where he interacted with a wide array of scholars, philosophers, and other writers. His work was also deeply influenced by earlier French authors, including François Rabelais, Clément Marot, François de Malherbe, and Vincent Voiture.21