Michel de montaigne biography

French author, philosopher, and statesman (1533–1592)

"Montaigne" redirects here. For other uses, see Montaigne (disambiguation).

Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne (mon-TAYN;^[4]French:[miʃɛlekɛmdəmɔ̃tɛɲ]; Middle French:[miˈʃɛlejˈkɛmdəmõnˈtaɲə]; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592^[5]), commonly known as Michel de Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance.

Michel de montaigne biography

He is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes^[6] and autobiography with intellectual insight. Montaigne had a direct influence on numerous Western writers; his massive volume Essais contains some of the most influential essays ever written.

During his lifetime, Montaigne was admired more as a statesman than as an author. The tendency in his essays to digress into anecdotes and personal ruminations was seen as detrimental to proper style