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The Rich Man and the Shoemaker
Is it better to be poor and happy or rich and careworn? In this charming fable by La Fontaine, adapted by Bernadette Watts, a cheerful shoemaker finds his own answer to this question when his wealthy neighbor tempts him with unimaginable riches.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Jean de la Fontaine
1,937 books270 followersFrench writer Jean de la Fontaine collected the stories of Aesop and other persons in his
Fables
(1668-1694).
French literary figures, including Molière and Jean de la Fontaine, gathered at Auteuil, a favorite place.
People most widely read the famous poet Jean de la Fontaine of the 17th century.
According to Gustave Flaubert, only this poet understood and mastered the texture of the language before Victor Marie Hugo. A set of postage stamps, issued in 1995, celebrates la Fontaine. Jean de La Fontaine, le défi , a film, released in April 2007, starred Lorànt Deutsch of his life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de...
French literary figures, including Molière and Jean de la Fontaine, gathered at Auteuil, a favorite place.
People most widely read the famous poet Jean de la Fontaine of the 17th century.
According to Gustave Flaubert, only this poet understood and mastered the texture of the language before Victor Marie Hugo. A set of postage stamps, issued in 1995, celebrates la Fontaine. Jean de La Fontaine, le défi , a film, released in April 2007, starred Lorànt Deutsch of his life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 9, 2022
A happy-go-lucky shoe-maker's life is changed for the worse when a wealthy neighbor gives him a bag of gold. I can't get enough of Wildsmith's sumptuous artwork.
September 1, 2012
The Rich Man and the Shoemaker was a classic tale of how the rich try to solve their problems. They always feel like they are being annoyed by the happiness of others so they try to manipulate them, in their own cunning ways, to get what they want. In this case peace and quiet. However, when the shoemaker recieves the bag of gold from the rich man his worries only begin to start. He no longer sings because of his paranoia, which makes the rich man happy and the poor man sad. In the end riches never made man happy, it is all a state of mind.
February 17, 2012
This book really shows how beauty lies in simple things, such as in singing and being surrounded by children. Things we think can give us happiness, like gold, can sometimes even be the source of our worry. Money can't buy happiness :)
June 12, 2017
1965, 1st edition
September 11, 2017
What a great way to teach money doesn't bring happiness. Even the rich man wasn't happy, he had no songs in his life, no family, only fortune. The shoemaker was happy with what he had, he didn't need all the gold, even if it meant more food for his family. He was humble and had all he needed, a job he loved, a home, and a family. The rich man did not understand that because he only had money, he did not understand happiness. Books with morals are a great way to show different ways of thinking, and how they can relate to our own life. I did not like the ending, it kind of left the reader hanging. The shoemaker was happy when he returned home without money, but how the rich man felt was not explained, the story just ended. I would read it to my little one though, it was a good story.
April 17, 2019
Something about this reminds me too much of Sponge-Bob and Squidward....
I dunno. The tale is slight and unsatisfying, and the art is rather specific to its era imo.
And what's wrong with a compromise?
I dunno. The tale is slight and unsatisfying, and the art is rather specific to its era imo.
And what's wrong with a compromise?
April 26, 2018
A fable for our time brilliantly illustrated by Brian Wildsmith
February 21, 2017
Beautiful colors.
March 8, 2009
Nice illustrations for this fable. I believe it is one of Aesop's fables?
A poor shoemaker gets some gold from a rich man. The poor shoemaker becomes so worried about the gold that he loses his joy for life. He returns the gold to the rich man and becomes happy again.
I think the shoemaker should have spent the gold on a big party for his friends! :-)
A poor shoemaker gets some gold from a rich man. The poor shoemaker becomes so worried about the gold that he loses his joy for life. He returns the gold to the rich man and becomes happy again.
I think the shoemaker should have spent the gold on a big party for his friends! :-)
September 7, 2013
Loved the story and the message.
But it's hard to imagine the illustrations being more badly drawn.
I can't figure out all these awful illustrations are supposed to be stylized, or if the illustrators really do draw like ten-year-olds.
But it's hard to imagine the illustrations being more badly drawn.
I can't figure out all these awful illustrations are supposed to be stylized, or if the illustrators really do draw like ten-year-olds.
May 8, 2012
I absolutely LOVED this fable!The illustrations were so detailed. Beautiful moral to the story too. :)
June 1, 2012
great!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews