Essais (Essays), the large collection of short essays by Michel de Montaigne was published in 1580. The essays are a reflection of Montaigne’s philosophy, his interests and learning. They describe humans, particularly Montaigne himself, and he expressed his thoughts freely through his essays.

His essays explore subjects as diverse as war-horses and cannibals, poetry and politics, sex and religion, love and friendship, ecstasy, and experience. Montaigne is associated with establishing the essay as a recognized genre in literature, and was the first person to use the word ‘essay’ to describe his writings.

Part of the bestselling Capstone Classics series, This high-quality, hardcover volume is a must-have for readers interested in the writings of Michel de Montaigne.

Michel de Montaigne was a sixteenth century French philosopher and a key figure of the French Renaissance. His initial career was as a politician and statesman, and he had connections to the French monarchy. Upon inheriting his father’s country estate he settled down to a life of reading, writing, and introspection. In 1580 he published his extensive Essais, whose uniquely personal perspective on subjects, including himself, established the modern form of the essay.

Philippe Desan is the Howard L. Willett Professor Emeritus of History of Culture at the University of Chicago. He specializes in the history of ideas in the Renaissance and is a leading Montaigne scholar. His biography, Montaigne. A Life, was published in 2018.

Tom Butler-Bowdon is series editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions for Plato’s Republic, Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Marx’ & Engels’ The Communist Manifesto. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Philosophy Classics, 50 Politics Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics

www.butler-bowdon.com

To the Reader xliii

Book I 1

8 On Idleness 3

9 On Liars 5

14 That the Way We See Good and Evil Depends on the Opinion We Have of Them 13

20 To Study Philosophy Is to Learn How to Die 39

21 On the Power of Imagination 63

23 On Custom, and That We Should Not Easily Change an Established Law 77

26 On the Education of Children 99

28 On Friendship 147

30 On Moderation 165

31 On Cannibals 175

39 On Solitude 193

Book II 209

1 On the Inconstancy of Our Actions 211

6 Use Makes Perfect 221

10 On Books 235

11 On Cruelty 251

18 On Giving the Lie 271

30 On a Monstrous Child 277

35 On Three Good Women 281

Book III 291

1 On Profit and Honesty 293

2 On Repentance 313

5 On Some Verses of Virgil 331

6 On Coaches 411

8 On the Art of Conversation 435

9 On Vanity 465

13 On Experience 541