French Passions: Will Self on Montaigne
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- Опубліковано 19 лип 2015
- How does one read Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)? In a talk held at the Ciné Lumière (French Institute, London) on 20 January 2011, Will Self explained his approach to Montaigne. Self also dropped in conversation his dreams about the Queen, how his six year old son would benefit from reading French, and his solo holidays with the Montaigne Essais.
Will Self is the author of eighteen books, including seven novels, three novellas, and four collections of short stories. His latest book, 'Walking to Hollywood', was published by Bloomsbury in September 2010.
Montaigne was one of the most prominent French Renaissance writers. His work influenced the likes of Rousseau and Nietzsche.
A joy to watch, as is, to me, every video featuring Will.
I read Montaigne's Essays after watching this. Yes, they're brilliant and Will Self is very good, too. Wonderful stuff.
Thanks for this. Very engaging enthusiasm, and remarkable the extent to which he speaks as he writes.
I've listened to this multiple times. What a marvelous conversation on Montaigne.... rereading the Essays but my translation is by Donald Frame....need to find the Screech (Sp.?) that Will Self refers to.... thank you for this excellent posting.
I love his voice, amazing.
The critics of this discussion are a benighted bunch-this is a perfected adequate discussion at getting our wheels going about the timelessness of Montaigne's anti-intellectual, anti-doctrinaire, anti-bourgeoisie thinking. An "essay," or "attempt," in the best, perfectly imperfect sense.
You're not wrong
'perfected adequate'
@@andyb2830pretentious.
Im impressed by him the more I see his interviews etc.. . Can anyone recommend a nice book of his, where I can start?
+Muhammad Shafiq I don't think I could recommend a 'nice' book by Will Self...because he's not a very 'nice' writer per se...however I do think a good introduction to him is his first collection of short stories the Quantity theory of Insanity...very interesting in terms of ideas and all quite manageable at a single sitting.
+BelatedCommiseration well, I meant "nice" in an unconventional sense
+BelatedCommiseration thanks for the recommendation
+Muhammad Shafiq Tough, Tough Toys for Tough, Tough Boys is a tolerable collection of short stories by Self. It goes in quest of the grotty, seamy underbelly of London and contemporary existence. You might describe the collection as 'dark magic realism', worth a look anyway.
+Michael Johns Thanks, sounds good. Anything in the vein of elongated and connected prose?
Will Self, brilliantly mediated by the trenchant anchor, interweaves a quaint tapestry of philosophical voyeurism, aperçu, ad-libs, G Simenon and inspector Maigret. The erotic dream with the Queen alas was an inordinately damp squib,
WTF?
Self is what passes for an intellectual in Britain today.
Will Self I rather like, but he fallaciously tumbles down a hill with his self reverential compulsions. I feel his need to continuingly crow bar insignificant subjectivity in his talk, regretfully and mistakenly affirms prejudices held by some regarding his wherewithal. The talk becomes Will Self banging on about Will Self with Montaigne used as an instrument to facilitate this false intrinsic value. The main meal should be Montaigne but he is a mere side order of pommes frites in this talk. If you have studied Montaigne from an academic perspective, then it is painfully apparent that Self’s reading of Montaigne is selectively scant at best; the clichéd recommendation of ‘An apology to Raymond Sebond’ and ‘Of Cannibals ’ I hoped would not be trotted out. I have extensively read all of Montaigne’s essays, travel journals and letters, so if you are wishing to learn about Montaigne this may not the best starting point. In defence of Will Self, who I do admire, his brilliant talk with Slavoj Žižek, whom I believe Self formidably betters throughout the dialogue, is an example of him at his finest polemical best. Self’s appearances on the BBC’s Question Time are also fine examples of how his quick thinking, wit, and intellectual prowess can easily place politicians on the back foot.
You’re the best at liking Montaigne!
I don't care for Will Self as a writer, but I always enjoy these personal takes on other's writers works. Montaigne was personable and informal by nature, so it makes complete sense to look at his work from a subjective, how-he-relates-to-me perspective. I like reading Henry Miller's essays on other writers (including Montaigne) for the same reason.
reddit!