Charles Perrault
The father of the fairy tale as we know it today, 17th-century French author Charles Perrault dedicated the latter part of his life to the betterment and education of his (and all) children through tales of morality. The stories he left behind have since become the cornerstone of fiction and iconic of the fairy tale genre as a whole. From Little Red Riding Hood to Puss in Boots, his tales are as essential to the modern consciousness as the very themes they explore.