Essays In Three Books. With Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator, by the Late Marquiss of Hallifax. Translated by Charles Cotton, Esq.

MONTAIGNE, Michel de

Published by B and B Barker, G. Strahan, S. Ballard [and 14 others], London, 1743

About this Item

Three volumes, octavo, contemporary dark marbled calf, spines with raised bands, lettered in blind (labels replaced), front covers lettered "Wakefield" in gilt capitals. The sixth edition, "corrected and amended", of Charles Cotton's translation. Cotton (1630-1687), English poet and writer, contributor to The Compleat Angler, is best known for his version of Montaigne, "among the acknowledged masterpieces of translation" (DNB). In contrast to Florio's extravagant Elizabethan prose of 1603/1613, Cotton's version was in turn suited to his age with a markedly dryer and plainer English. Cotton's translation holds significant importance in the literary and philosophical realms, having helped spread Montaigne's profound and influential ideas to the English-speaking world. The "Essays" are a collection of personal reflections and philosophical musings, covering a wide range of topics such as human nature, morality, education, and the nature of knowledge. Cotton's translation not only preserved the essence of Montaigne's original work but also rendered it accessible to a broader audience, enabling English readers to engage with Montaigne's profound insights. Cotton's efforts contributed to the spread and popularization of the essay as a literary genre, shaping the development of English literature and thought. Moreover, the translation acted as a conduit for the exchange of ideas between France and England during the Enlightenment, fostering intellectual and cultural dialogue. . Provenance: Hugh Cleghorn (1752-1837), colonial administrator, "child of the Scottish Enlightenment" and a beneficiary in Adam Smith's will; from his library at Wakefield House, Strathivie, in Fife, near St. Andrews, with front covers boldly stamped in gilt "WAKEFIELD". The bindings lightly rubbed but a very pleasant set; the labels, though replaced, quite appropriate.

Seller Inventory # 5000764

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Essays In Three Books. With Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator, by the Late Marquiss of Hallifax. Translated by Charles Cotton, Esq.
• Publisher: B and B Barker, G. Strahan, S. Ballard [and 14 others], London
• Publication Date: 1743
• Binding: Hardcover
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