Montaigne

by Hugo Friedrich, Philippe Desan (Editor), Dawn Eng (Translator)

Overview

Friedrich considers the Montaigne of the Essays on of the first "moralists" in the French sense of the term, recording with anthropological fervor and in fresh, informal language the full spectrum of human thought and commerce as he saw it. Philippe Desan, who introduces this fine translation, commends Friedrich's holistic interpretation of Montaigne's unstructured creation, so often reduced by critics to its smallest fragments. Friedrich, says Desan, evokes "an epoch, distilled from accounts given by the best witness of the Renaissance."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520072534
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	07/16/1991
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	433
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction by Philippe Desan
Preface to the First Edition
Introductory Description of the Essais
Intellectual Inheritance and Education
Abased Man
Affirmed Man
The Self
Montaigne and Death
Montaigne's Wisdom
Montaigne's Literary Consciousness and the Form of the Essais
Notes
Index
 

Editorial Reviews

Michel de Montaigne's Essays , which explore widely diverse topics, were begun in 1572 when Montaigne was 38. To Friedrich, Montaigne is a descriptive anthropologist of Renaissance humanity rather than a defender of moral values. Friedrich interprets Montaigne's depiction of debased humanity, our animal helplessness; then demonstrates how Montaigne affirmed our humanity by describing the traits that make us admirable; and lastly discusses Montaigne's attempt to understand humankind by our own self-analysis. Friedrich stresses Montaigne's consent, obedience, and resignation toward life, recommending obedience to nature rather than Christian repentance in death. Though first published in Germany in 1949, Friedrich's is still one of the most comprehensive studies of the Essays . Essential for all academic libraries.-- Bob Ivey, Memphis State Univ., Tenn.

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