Montaigne's Essays (Original Edition, Collectible Version)

Author: (French) Montaigne, original text, translated by Jiang Min and Xu Fang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Essays consists of three volumes, 107 chapters, and approximately one million words. The original French title of the book is Les Essais. The word Essais carries the meaning of "experiment," "attempt," or "trial." This reflects the author's accessible and humble approach. He is not preaching, nor does he feign profundity or boast his knowledge. Instead, he speaks in a conversational manner, as if chatting face-to-face with the reader. The writing style of the book is varied, yet the arguments are insightful, holding an important place in both Western and world literary history. The content can be summarized into three aspects: (1) the self that the author perceives; (2) the ways of human existence and emotions he experiences; (3) the real world as he understands it. Montaigne, with the eyes of a sage, observes and examines the myriad beings of the vast world, contemplating the history and progress of humanity. From ancient Greece to the 16th century, from France to ancient Egypt and Persia, his works cover a wide range of topics. His arguments are grand and sweeping. He is erudite, cites extensively, draws lessons from the past and applies them to the present, offering unique, incisive, and sometimes peculiar insights into many shared human thoughts and emotions. Reading it inspires reflection, provokes deep contemplation and self-examination, thereby enhancing people's understanding of themselves, life, and the world. Therefore, The Essays is a seemingly ordinary yet profoundly meaningful work.