Essays of Michel de Montaigne Translated by Charles Cotton Edited by William Carew Hazilitt 1877 Montaigne's stated design in writing, publishing and revising the Essays over the period from approximately 1570 to 1592 was to record "some traits of my character and of my humours." The Essays were first published in 1580 and cover a wide range of topics. The present publication is intended to supply a recognised deficiency in our literature