Written during the Second World War, Zweig's typically passionate and readable b
iography of Michel de Montaigne, is also a heartfelt argument for the importance
of intellectual freedom, tolerance and humanism. Zweig draws strong parallels b
etween Montaigne's age, when Europe was torn in two by conflict between Catholic
ism and Protestantism, and his own, in which the twin fanaticisms of Fascism and
Communism were on the verge of destroying the pan-continental liberal culture h
e was born into, and loved dearly. Just as Montaigne sought to remain aloof from
the factionalism of his day, so Zweig tried to the last to defend his freedom o
f thought, and argue for peace and compromise.
