Montaigne moves to Cambridge

Cambridge University Library has received an outstanding collection of books relating to Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), author of the celebrated Essais, who famously declared "I am myself the matter of my book."

The Montaigne Library was assembled by the Montaigne scholar and financier Gilbert de Botton (1935–2000). Peter Fox, University Librarian, explained: "The motivation behind Gilbert de Botton’s remarkable collection was the desire to recreate Montaigne’s library – by buying either Montaigne’s personal copies or other copies of works known to have belonged to him. He was able to purchase 10 of Montaigne’s own books."

Among the books is Montaigne’s copy of Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura (1563), an important influence on his life’s work. It is covered with Montaigne’s annotations, allowing scholars to trace in detail how he read and used his source. There is also a fine set of editions of Montaigne’s works, including copies owned by Ben Jonson and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and an impressive collection of secondary works, which means that Cambridge is now a major centre for Montaigne studies.

Philip Ford, Professor of French and Neo-Latin Literature at Cambridge, said, "Thanks to Gilbert de Botton’s passionate interest in Montaigne, future generations of Montaigne scholars will be able to share in his interest by consulting this magnificent collection in its new home in Cambridge University Library." A monograph by Professor Ford, published by the University Library, gives further information on the scope and content of the collection.

The acquisition is marked by a conference of the French Department’s Cambridge French Colloquia in September 2008, devoted to the "Librairie de Montaigne", and an exhibition of items from the collection, 'My booke and my selfe': Michel de Montaigne 1533–1592’, which runs until 23 December 2008 at Cambridge University Library.