1. Monsieur de La Br de (1689 1705) -- 2. From Labr de to Secondat de Montesquieu (1705 1713) -- 3. From Secondat to Montesquieu (1713 1721) -- 4. Taking wing (1722 1727) -- 5. Europe on the horizon (1728 1731) -- 6. A new departure (1731 1738) -- 7. 'A labor of twenty years' (1736 1748) -- 8. The march to glory (1749 1755) -- 9. The final battle.
Summary:
"This is where the difficulties begin: for as they get closer to Montesquieu, biographers feel somehow obliged to give substance to the persons with whom they must deal, even when they know nothing, or not much, about them. Each of them repeats his predecessor and enhances the whole, to the point where it is sometimes difficult to locate the first source of most of the traits attributed to Montesquieu's parents and even to Montesquieu himself. In this proliferation of amiable approximations and exaggerations, themselves often based on the aristocratic pride that "forgets" certain details the better to stress everything that serves the family honor, they have to clear themselves a path."-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.