In 1580, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) published a book unique by its title and its content: Essays"R. A literary genre was born. At first sight, the Essays resemble a patchwork of personal reflections, but they engage with questions that animate the human mind, and tend toward a single goal: to live better in the present and to prepare for death. For this reason, Montaigne's thought and writings have been a subject of enduring interest across disciplines. This Handbook brings together essays by prominent scholars that examine Montaigne's literary, philosophical, and political contributions, and assess his legacy and relevance today in a global perspective.The chapters of this Handbook offer a sweeping study of Montaigne across different disciplines and in a global perspective. One section covers the historical Montaigne, situating his thought in his own time and space, notably the Wars of Religion in France. The political, historical and religious context of Montaigne's Essays requires a rigorous presentation to inform the modern reader of the issues and problems that confronted Montaigne and his contemporaries in his own time.In addition to this contextual approach to Montaigne, the Handbook also establishes a connection between Montaigne's writings and issues and problems directly relevant to our modern times, that is to say, our age of global ideology. Montaigne's considerations, or essays, offer a point of departure for the modern reader's own assessments. The Essays analyze what can be broadly defined as human nature, the endless process by which the individual tries to impose opinions upon others through the production of laws, policies or philosophies. Montaigne's motto -- "What do I know?" -- is a simple question yet one of perennial significance. One could argue that reading Montaigne today teaches us that the angle defines the world we see, or, as Montaigne wrote: "What matters is not merely that we see the thing, but how we see it."

CONTENTSNote on editionsMontaigne's Essays: A Book Consubstantial with its AuthorPhilippe DesanPART I: HISTORICAL MONTAIGNE1. From Eyquem to MontaignePhilippe Desan2. Montaigne's EducationGeorge Hoffmann3. The Humanist Tradition and MontaigneJohn O'Brien4. Montaigne, Translator of Raymond SebondMireille Habert5. La Bo?tie and MontaigneMichel Magnien6. The Public Life of MontaignePhilippe Desan7. Montaigne and the Wars of ReligionMark Greengrass8. Publishing History of the EssaysJean Balsamo9. Montaigne's Travel JournalFran?ois Rigolot10. Montaigne, the New World, and PrecolonialismsTimothy Reiss11. Montaigne and HistoryJohn Lyons12. Montaigne's Political ThoughtBiancamaria Fontana13. Montaigne's Turn to Modern PhilosophyAnn Hartle14. Montaigne: Early Modern, Modern, PostmodernZachary SchiffmanPART II: RECEPTION OF MONTAIGNE15. Montaigne in the WorldPaul Smith16. Montaigne in England and AmericaWarren Boutcher17. Montaigne and ShakespeareWilliam Hamlin18. Montaigne and DescartesMichael MoriartyPART III: MODERN AND GLOBAL MONTAIGNE19. Montaigne on LanguageKatie Chenoweth20. Montaigne on StyleKathy Eden21. Montaigne on RhetoricD?borah Knop22. Montaigne on ReadingPeter Mack23. Montaigne on Free ThinkingRichard Scholar24. Montaigne on SelfMarie-Clart? Lagr?e25. Montaigne on Justice and LawVal?rie M. Dionne26. Montaigne on ViolenceCynthia Nazarian27. Montaigne on Virtue and EthicsUllrich Langer28. Montaigne on Faith and ReligionAlain Legros29. Montaigne on Truth and SkepticismJan Miernowski30. Montaigne on GenderTodd W. Reeser31. Montaigne on WomenMary McKinley32. Montaigne on EmpathySarah Bakewell33. Montaigne on FriendshipEric McPhail34. Montaigne on LoveElizabeth Guild35. Montaigne on MemoryAndrea Frisch36. Montaigne on CuriosityZahi Zalloua37. Montaigne on ImaginationWes Williams38. Montaigne on AlterityTom Conley39. Montaigne on Monsters and MonstrosityKathleen Long40. Montaigne on AnimalsThierry Gontier41. Montaigne on AgingCynthia Skenazi42. Montaigne on Health and DeathDorothea HeitschConclusion: Bibliographic and Research Resources on MontaignePhilippe Desan