{"product_id":"complete-essays","title":"Complete Essays","description":"\u003cp\u003eMichel de Montaigne was one of the most influential figures of the Renaissance, singlehandedly responsible for popularising the essay as a literary form. This Penguin Classics edition of \u003ci\u003eThe Complete Essays\u003c\/i\u003e is translated from the French and edited with an introduction and notes by M.A. Screech.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1572 Montaigne retired to his estates in order to devote himself to leisure, reading and reflection. There he wrote his constantly expanding 'assays', inspired by the ideas he found in books contained in his library and from his own experience. He discusses subjects as diverse as war-horses and cannibals, poetry and politics, sex and religion, love and friendship, ecstasy and experience. But, above all, Montaigne studied himself as a way of drawing out his own inner nature and that of men and women in general. The \u003ci\u003eEssays\u003c\/i\u003e are among the most idiosyncratic and personal works in all literature and provide an engaging insight into a wise Renaissance mind, continuing to give pleasure and enlightenment to modern readers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith its extensive introduction and notes, M.A. Screech's edition of Montaigne is widely regarded as the most distinguished of recent times.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichel de Montaigne (1533-1586) studied law and spent a number of years working as a counsellor before devoting his life to reading, writing and reflection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you enjoyed \u003ci\u003eThe Complete Essays\u003c\/i\u003e, you might like Francois Rabelais's \u003ci\u003eGargantua and Pantagruel\u003c\/i\u003e, also available in Penguin Classics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Screech's fine version ... must surely serve as the definitive English Montaigne'\u003cbr\u003eA.C. Grayling, \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A superb edition'\u003cbr\u003eNicholas Wollaston, \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54220775915864,"sku":"9780140446043","price":27.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780140446043.jpg?v=1768973427","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/complete-essays","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}