The Oxford Handbook of Montaigne

by Philippe Desan (Editor)

Overview

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."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190679231
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/14/2016
Series:	Oxford Handbooks
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Philippe Desan is Howard L. Willett Professor of French Literature and History of Culture at the University of Chicago. Among his most recent books are Montaigne: A Life (Princeton University Press, 2016), Bibliotheca Desaniana: Catalogue Montaigne (Classiques Garnier, 2011), and Montaigne: Les formes du monde et de l'esprit (Presses de l'Universit? Paris-Sorbonne, 2008). He edited the Essays of 1582 (2005), the Bordeaux Copy of the Essays (2002), and Montaigne's Travel Journal (2014), and is the general editor of Montaigne Studies.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS Note on editions Montaigne's Essays: A Book Consubstantial with its Author Philippe Desan PART I: HISTORICAL MONTAIGNE 1. From Eyquem to Montaigne Philippe Desan 2. Montaigne's Education George Hoffmann 3. The Humanist Tradition and Montaigne John O'Brien 4. Montaigne, Translator of Raymond Sebond Mireille Habert 5. La Bo?tie and Montaigne Michel Magnien 6. The Public Life of Montaigne Philippe Desan 7. Montaigne and the Wars of Religion Mark Greengrass 8. Publishing History of the Essays Jean Balsamo 9. Montaigne's Travel Journal Fran?ois Rigolot 10. Montaigne, the New World, and Precolonialisms Timothy Reiss 11. Montaigne and History John Lyons 12. Montaigne's Political Thought Biancamaria Fontana 13. Montaigne's Turn to Modern Philosophy Ann Hartle 14. Montaigne: Early Modern, Modern, Postmodern Zachary Schiffman PART II: RECEPTION OF MONTAIGNE 15. Montaigne in the World Paul Smith 16. Montaigne in England and America Warren Boutcher 17. Montaigne and Shakespeare William Hamlin 18. Montaigne and Descartes Michael Moriarty PART III: MODERN AND GLOBAL MONTAIGNE 19. Montaigne on Language Katie Chenoweth 20. Montaigne on Style Kathy Eden 21. Montaigne on Rhetoric D?borah Knop 22. Montaigne on Reading Peter Mack 23. Montaigne on Free Thinking Richard Scholar 24. Montaigne on Self Marie-Clart? Lagr?e 25. Montaigne on Justice and Law Val?rie M. Dionne 26. Montaigne on Violence Cynthia Nazarian 27. Montaigne on Virtue and Ethics Ullrich Langer 28. Montaigne on Faith and Religion Alain Legros 29. Montaigne on Truth and Skepticism Jan Miernowski 30. Montaigne on Gender Todd W. Reeser 31. Montaigne on Women Mary McKinley 32. Montaigne on Empathy Sarah Bakewell 33. Montaigne on Friendship Eric McPhail 34. Montaigne on Love Elizabeth Guild 35. Montaigne on Memory Andrea Frisch 36. Montaigne on Curiosity Zahi Zalloua 37. Montaigne on Imagination Wes Williams 38. Montaigne on Alterity Tom Conley 39. Montaigne on Monsters and Monstrosity Kathleen Long 40. Montaigne on Animals Thierry Gontier 41. Montaigne on Aging Cynthia Skenazi 42. Montaigne on Health and Death Dorothea Heitsch Conclusion: Bibliographic and Research Resources on Montaigne Philippe Desan

Editorial Reviews

"In conclusion, it is in the domain of pedagogy that The Oxford Handbook of Montaigne has the potential to shine the brightest. It can provide instructors not only with a sense of what is at stake in Montaigne, but with an idea of what essays to assign or excerpt, as well as readymade secondary readings and useful, albeit somewhat scant, suggestions for further reading. Hopefully, Desan and his fellow contributors have started a trend that will someday see Oxford Handbooks for other luminaries of early modern France." —Scott M. Francis, Renaissance Quarterly

"This is obviously a book that the reader delves into as the need arises. ... [the chapters] are all learned, they are all informative, and they all make us think about Montaigne in ways that diverge from tradition. Most importantly, they are almost all stimulating to read." —John McClelland, Renaissance and Reformation

From the Publisher