A Summer with Montaigne

The work of Montaigne thus found a new interest as it gives a very modern version of how he has adapted to these changes by adopting an empirical philosophy which mixes a deep skepticism about the innovations he had not means of understanding and evaluating. He adopted at the same time a deep individualism because of the collapse of ideologies, and a political conservatism that it seems necessary to escape the chaos born from havoc and epidemics caused by the wars of religion.

The book of Antoine Compagnon gives a very educational analysis and helps to penetrate the thousand facets of the work of Montaigne written in a tasty but difficult language for a contemporary French speaker. It complements happily excellent biography of Stefan Zweig which was his moving last work .

- Georges Sicherman