The Swiss-born writer, Stefan Zweig, spent two years of his life intensely exploring the life and writings of Michel de Montaigne, a 16th century French philosopher. Zweig's admiration and appreciation of Montaigne not only led to his biographical work, Montaigne, but also to the expansion of his own philosophical and literary understanding, as well as the basis for his own writings.
Zweig first discovered Montaigne in 1923, finding a new admiration in the philosopher's works. He quickly became enamored with Montaigne's writings and the man behind them. Zweig initially read Montaigne's works to gain insight into his own emotional and spiritual thought process, as he felt Montaigne's work could be helpful in the furthering of his personal growth. Commenting on the French philosopher in a lecture, Zweig explained that "If ever a book provided a perspective from which human existence can be viewed as a unity, it is Montaigne's Essays".
To understand Montaigne, Zweig left his birthplace of Vienna and traveled to Montaigne's home in France. Here, Zweig spent two years researching and studying, allowing his admiration of the philosopher to grow by the day. It was through these two years, in which Zweig dedicated himself to understanding Montaigne, that Montaigne was written.
Montaigne is an extensive work, which outlines the biography of the philosopher during his life in the 16th century. Zweig looks to explore the ways in which Montaigne's thought process influences his writings. Zweig uses his own interpretation of Montaigne's writings to paint a picture of Montaigne as a man: his background and his own thought-process, as well as his affect on the lives of his readers.
The writings of Montaigne primarily explore the idea of skepticism and the anti-dogmatic attitude. Montaigne was a man of flux, he believed strongly that life was ever-changing and that one should be open to these changes. He also wasn't afraid to explore the darker side of life, doing so with a willingness to accept difficult truths. Montaigne posited that the search for knowledge should center more upon the individual's beliefs rather than the traditional religious and philosophical teachings of the day.
As the biography develops, Zweig looks further into Montaigne's private life, delving into his relationships, his creative pursuits and his daily routine. His book strives to reconcile the reader with Montaigne's life, as well as his beliefs and his impact upon the lives of others. To do this, Zweig grounds the narrative on a human level so that the reader can find solace in Montaigne's thoughts.
At its core, Montaigne is a book about exploration. Zweig's careful selection of source material helps the reader gain an intimate understanding of the life of Michel de Montaigne. Zweig uses Montaigne's life and words to connect with his readers and help them exploration the depths of their own thought-process. It is this exploration of Montaigne's work that allows Zweig's writing to shine, as his own admiration and fascination of Montaigne's life is evident.
Montaigne is a wonderful biography of a renowned philosopher and thinker, exploring his life and thoughts in a way that allows the reader to also investigate their own understanding of the world. It elaborates on the significance and legacy of Montaigne, as well as his continued effect on the lives of others across the years. Through his writings, Zweig allowed his own journey of personal and philosophical exploration to manifest itself, further exploring the life of Montaigne in an engaging and intellectual way.
