What Do I Know?

A fresh new translation of Michel de Montaignes most profound searching essays with an introduction from Yiyun Li author of The Book of GooseThis gift-worthy collection of 16 essays by the father of the essay is a short accessible introduction to his work offering a fascinating glimpse inside a great Renaissance mindI myself am the subject of my book. So wrote Montaigne in the introductory note to his Essays the book that marked the birth of the modern essay form.In works of probing intelligence and idiosyncratic observation Montaigne moved from intimate personal observation to roving theories of the conduct of kings and cannibals the effects of sorrow and fear and the fallibility of human memory and judgement.This new selection of Montaignes 16 most ingenious essays appears in a lucid new translation by the prize-winning David Coward. What Do I Know? gives the modern reader profound insight into a great Renaissance mind.What Do I Know? is divided into 3 sections and includes:MONTAIGNE ON MONTAIGNEOn Sorrow On how our Actions are to be judged by the Intention On Idling On Liars That we should not be considered happy until we are deadON THE PURSUIT OF REASONOn Fear To tell true from false it is folly to rely on our own capacities How we can cry and laugh at the same thing On Solitude On the Uncertainty of our Judgement On DrunkennessON GOVERNANCE AND GOVERNORSOn Cannibals On the Inequality that exists between us On Sleep On our lease of life On Carriages