Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Le Fromage: The World of French Cheese (Part 1) Posted by mtaulier on Jul 18, 2014
Is there anything more stereotypically French than le fromage (cheese)? Maybe a beret, maybe a baguette, but cheese definitely ranks near the top. There are literally hundreds of different variétés de fromage (varieties of cheese) and it would take many years to really get to know them all and to be able to discern the…
Les Fables de La Fontaine: Le Lion et le Chasseur Posted by mtaulier on Jun 20, 2014
Another great fable from the illustrious Jean de La Fontaine, a fabulist of the 17th century. Unlike the previous fables we explored (Le Chêne et le Roseau, Les Deux Mulets, La Cigale et la Fourmi), Le Lion et le Chasseur (The Lion and the Hunter) is one of the few of La Fontaine’s fables featuring…
Les Fables de La Fontaine: Le Chêne et le Roseau Posted by mtaulier on May 28, 2014
Le Chêne et le Roseau (The Oak and the Reed) is one of my favorite fables from the 17th century fabulist Jean de La Fontaine. I clearly remember having to recite it in front of the class when I was in second grade. Unlike the previous fables we explored—Le Corbeau et le Renard (The Crow…
Les Fables de La Fontaine: Les Deux Mulets Posted by mtaulier on May 26, 2014
Today we’ll be exploring another of La Fontaine’s fables, this one entitled Les Deux Mulets (The Two Mules). Like the first two, Le Corbeau et le Renard (The Crow and the Fox) and La Cigale et la Fourmi (The Grasshopper and the Ant), this story centers on the (almost human) interaction between two animals. C’est un…
Les Fables de La Fontaine: La Cigale et la Fourmi Posted by mtaulier on May 19, 2014
Jean de La Fontaine is undoubtedly one of the most famous fabulists (one who writes fables) who ever lived. Born in 1621, he was a contemporary of King Louis XIV and was celebrated for his fables involving talking animals and insects. His works have never waned in popularity and have been translated into dozens of…
À Table!: The French Meal in Seven Courses (Part 1) Posted by mtaulier on Apr 2, 2014
“Sit down for a French meal and expect to stay seated for at least a couple hours.” I remember hearing someone say these words many years ago and later realized truer words were never spoken. You don’t have to be French pour apprécier la bonne nourriture (to appreciate good food) but for people unaccustomed to…
Marcel Pagnol: Un Trésor de la Littérature Française (A Treasure of French Literature) Posted by mtaulier on Mar 7, 2014
Do the names Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas or Gustave Flaubert sound familiar? All four of these French novelists have earned their place in the pantheon of literary greats and their books continue to inspire legions of readers nearly two centuries after they were written. What about Marcel Pagnol? Doesn’t ring a bell? Pagnol…