If there was an award for 'Best Last Line In A Book', Bakewell would have it on her mantelpiece: 'the best things in life happen when you don't get what you think you want'.
Thank you Sarah Bakewell for your 'voluntary servitude' to Montaigne and for bringing him to me on this marvellous platter of poetry, history and personality. I feel warmly enveloped within the temperate palms of his hands that have brought me closer to myself. I have been 'embabooned' by both of you!
I'd never heard of Montaigne until reading an article by Maria Popova on Brainpickings. I took a chance and ended up having the most enjoyable month in the company of a 16th century philosophical legend who championed mindfulness, forgetfulness and moderation in his attempts to flourish as a human being. Influenced by Hellenistic traditions, Montaigne was a stoic; a sceptic and a secret radical who travelled, read, wrote and loved by following the promptings of pleasure. He was intrigued by himself, rolled around in himself and wrote about every thought that came into his head. This is what makes 'The Essays' (his life's work) so enriching I guess, they are as much about the politics of the day and the ferocious French civil wars as they are about kidney stones and cats! He was all personality, a free-spirited, independent hero who resisted any claim to heroism. Everybody wanted a piece of him, even the King, but he had 'conceived a mortal hatred of being obliged either to another or by another' than himself.
How To Live? It involves nothing more complicated than being ordinary and imperfect; guarding your humanity; paying attention; questioning everything and regretting nothing.
This is a wonderful book. One for the bedside locker at home and in every hotel room in the world. Highly recommended.