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The Montaigne Monopoly: Revising the Essais under the French Privilege System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2020

George Hoffmann
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Abstract

Does the business of writing shape the works of even the most private authors? A demonstration that one of the major figures of French literature was influenced throughout his career by Renaissance publishing policy might clarify the relation of professional demands to individual genius. The way Montaigne expanded and enlarged his book from edition to edition, one of the most salient features of his writing, has been variously attributed to biographical and philosophical causes—that is, to sources in his creative energy. The historical records, however, suggest that Montaigne's revision of his Essais was inspired also by the need to reestablish ownership over a work that was about to fall into the public domain. Legislation from the period reveals that publishers regularly released revised editions to renew their privileges (short-term bookselling monopolies). (GH)

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 108 , Issue 2 , March 1993 , pp. 308 - 319
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1993

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