The Essays (Essais) of Michel de Montaigne, first published in 1580 and enlarged until his death in 1592, are a collection of 107 chapters on every subject, in which the author studies himself in order to understand human nature. They created the essay as a literary form.
A new kind of book
Montaigne began writing around 1572 in the library of his tower, at first collecting examples and quotations from ancient authors. Little by little, he came to speak more about himself, his habits, his illnesses and his thoughts.
He announced in his preface to the reader that he was himself the subject of his book. The chapters range from friendship, cannibals and education to smells, thumbs and coaches.
Three books
The first two books were published in Bordeaux in 1580. The edition of 1588, published in Paris, added a third book and hundreds of additions.
Montaigne went on correcting and adding to his own copy, the 'Bordeaux copy', until his death. His adopted daughter Marie de Gournay published a posthumous edition in 1595.
In English
John Florio's translation of 1603 was read by Shakespeare, who borrowed from the essay Of Cannibals in The Tempest. Charles Cotton's translation of 1685–1686 was the standard English version for two centuries.
The Essays influenced Bacon, Pascal, Descartes, Rousseau, Emerson and Nietzsche, and remain one of the great books of European thought.
Anecdotes
Shakespeare's copy
A copy of Florio's translation in the British Library bears a signature that some have claimed to be Shakespeare's, though most scholars doubt it. The borrowing from Of Cannibals in The Tempest is certain.
On friendship
The essay Of Friendship is a tribute to Étienne de La Boétie. Asked why he loved him, Montaigne answered: 'Because it was he, because it was I.'
Frequently asked questions
How many essays did Montaigne write?
107, in three books.
What does 'essay' mean for Montaigne?
An attempt or trial: a way of testing his judgement on a subject.
Which English translation is in the public domain?
Those of John Florio (1603) and Charles Cotton (1685–1686), the latter revised by William Carew Hazlitt in 1877.