Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592) was one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance. Montaigne is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. He was able to combine serious intellectual writing with casual anecdotes and autobiography. Montaigne had an influence on many writers including Shakespeare. Montaigne analyzed the world through his own judgment, which makes him very accessible to the modern reader. Fies begins by saying, "It has always been a daring venture to attempt finding out Shakspere's individuality, and the range of his philosophical and political...

It has always been a daring venture to attempt finding out Shakespeare's individuality, and the range of his philosophical and political ideas, from his poetical productions. We come nearest to his feelings in his 'Sonnets;' but only a few heavy sighs, as it were, from a time of languish in his life can be heard therefrom. All the rest of those lyrical effusions, in spite of the zealous exertions of commentators full of delicate sentiment and of deep thought, remain an unsolved secret.