This biography of Michel de Montaigne, the French essayist and philosopher, provides a fascinating account of his life and the development of his ideas. Bayle St. John draws on a wide range of sources to paint a vivid picture of Montaigne's world and the intellectual milieu in which he lived. This book also includes detailed illustrations that bring Montaigne's world to life. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.