Montaigne was a French essayist, born in the Chateau de Montaigne, of a wealthy family, and educated at the College de Guyenne. He studied law, and served afterward as a member of the court of aids at Perigueux and of the judicial court known as the parlement of Bordeaux.
Montainge had a profound influence on European literature as a literary innovator and philosophical moralist. He originated the essay as a type of brief composition dealing with personal reflections expressed in an informal manner. His essays, which range over a wide variety of topics, are characterized by a discursive style, a lively conversational tone, and the use of numerous quotations from classical writers.
As a thinker Montaigne is noted for his investigation of institutions, opinions, and customs and for his opposition to all forms of dogmatism that have no rational basis. He observes life with philosophical skepticism, for he emphasizes the contradictions in man's nature and the incoherences in man's behavior.
Here are some links about Montaingne:
Michel Montaigne
Montaigne & Essays Chat
