About this book
Jacques Cazotte's Mille et une fadaises is a delightful collection of whimsical fairy tales designed to cure insomnia through sheer absurdity and charm. When the Baroness visits her friend the Marquise, who hasn't slept in a fortnight, an Abbé arrives with the perfect remedy: a series of fantastical stories brimming with ridiculous humor and imaginative nonsense.
Through these enchanting tales, eccentric characters like Riante, the aptly named Laughing Fairy, and the peculiar Fée Troisbosses come to life in increasingly comical situations. Cazotte masterfully weaves together the traditions of 18th-century French fairy tales with his own irreverent wit, creating narratives that celebrate the joyful absurdity of storytelling itself. The author plays with fantastical conventions and logic, turning expected tropes upside down for maximum entertainment.
Originally published as a playful counterpart to tales of greater seriousness, this collection captures the spirit of salon entertainment from the French Enlightenment era, where cleverness and humor were prized as much as moral instruction. The stories operate on dream logic, where the impossible becomes delightfully possible.
Perfect for anyone seeking lighthearted fantasy with intellectual wit, this audiobook appeals to listeners who enjoy classic fairy tales with a satirical twist, as well as those discovering the roots of French literary humor. Cazotte's nonsensical charm remains surprisingly fresh and entertaining centuries later.
