First published 2001
Historian Sarah Bakewell takes us back to 16th-century Paris, where a young man named Michel de Montaigne embarks on an epic journey of self-discovery. As he grapples with questions of identity, mortality, and the human condition, Montaigne's unorthodox ideas challenge the rigid dogmas of his time. Through Bakewell's vivid prose, we witness the birth of a revolutionary thinker whose legacy continues to shape our understanding of the world.
Genres: biography, philosophy, historical-fiction, academic
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, self-discovery
Setting: Great Britain
Period: 18th Century, George III, 1760-1820
288 pages · Hardcover · Random House UK