num_pages: 206
description: Bubbling with beautiful princesses, dragon-slaying underdogs, and crafty tricksters, these Franco-American stories explore a heritage that has become known as "a quiet presence" in the United States.Michael Parent and Julien Olivier recount the stories that they often heard as children growing up in the northeast United States. The bilingual pair recalls with Franco-American flair the lutin's tricks on farmers, the Jack-like adventures of Ti-Jean, Pierre and his modern-day chainsaw, a beautiful princess conquering an evil witch, and family stories passed down from generation to generation. Meet Michael's grandfather, Honore Fournier, who spoiled his grandchildren with kindly generosity, and Alexis Lacasse, Julien's grandfather, who didn't let a prank stop him from arriving to dinner on time. Life in Franco-American families revolved around two entities: family and church. In concise introductions, the authors address these two important aspects and how they connect to or affect the stories they retell. Peppered with French words and colorful characters, this glowing collection of stories gathered from many sources invites readers to share in a culture teeming with French and Canadian traditions.
language: English
title: Of Kings and Fools: Stories of the French Tradition in North America
titlecomplete: Of Kings and Fools: Stories of the French Tradition in North America (American Storytelling)
ratings_count: 6
series: American Storytelling
publisher: August House