Select Essays

By: Michel de Montaigne

Narrated by: Clive Chafer

Michel de Montaigne, one of the foremost writers of the French Renaissance and the originator of the genre of the essay, wrote on subjects ranging from friendship to imagination, from language to conscience. This collection includes 22 of Montaigne's essays, including "Of Prognostications," "Of the Custom of Wearing Clothes," "Of Pedantry," and "Of Friendship." Throughout Montaigne's writing, he approaches his subject matter with rationality and skepticism, constantly searching for truth and inquiring into the nature of the human character. Montaigne's essays have been widely read since their first publication by such great writers as Shakespeare and Ralph Waldo Emerson and continue to resonate for modern audiences. This edition is the translation by Charles Cotton.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

Beware: “betwixts” and “methinks” galore

I cannot understand why an audiobook would be translated from Middle French to some ancient version of the English language. Dear translator, since your audience does not include people like Shakespeare, but rather Millennials, Baby Boomers, and other people of the sort, methinks your translation to be garbage. Drop the methinks and the betwixts, and you’ll audiobook will be better.

Narration fail

Love Montaigne but this reading is flat and lifeless. I can imagine folks being put off, despite the lucid text. Other versions are far more enjoyable.

Monotone

The way it is read makes it hard to focus on. Put it on if you need help falling asleep.

The content is stupifying at times. Author related a story how someone after watching bull fighting grew horns overnight.

Sucky performance kept me from finishing the book

Any additional comments?

The narrator was so flat that it was impossible for me to listen to the dense text and hear anything other than a wall of words. I can't really comment on the content because after a single chapter I had to shut it off or fall asleep while driving.