The Legacy of Montaigne: How the Essay Became an Art Form
Introduction Michel de Montaigne, the 16th-century French thinker, practically invented a new literary genre while asking life’s big (and small) questions. The essay—now synonymous with everything from high school assignments to viral opinion pieces—owes its origin to this introspective giant. Montaigne didn’t just write; he mused, pondered, and occasionally rambled. But in doing so, he…