Biographical note

Michel de Montaigne is one of the founding fathers of the essay. Retreating to his chateau to write, (and often neglecting his estate duties), Montaigne pondered the great and small questions of life. Throughout his essays he attempted to reach a deeper understanding of himself, and in doing so, touches on the greater human condition. Always curious, Montaigne ponders subjects as diverse as education, fear, reading and death. His ideas and the charm of his writing continue to captivate modern readers. Tim Parks is a novelist, essayist, travel writer and translator based in Italy. Author of fifteen novels, including the Booker short-listed Europa, he has translated works by Moravia, Calvino, Calasso, Machiavelli and Leopardi. While running a post-graduate degree course in translation in Milan, he writes regularly for the LRB and the NYRB. His many non-fiction works include the bestselling Italian Neighbours and Teach Us to Sit Still, a memoir on chronic pain and meditation. His critical work includes the essay collection Where I'm Reading From, and most recently, The Novel, A Survival Skill, a reflection on the relationship between novelists, their writing and their readers.