A French writer. He invented the essay-form of literature and is known to garden historians for his thoughtful accounts of Italian Renaissance gardens. The essays made him famous and the account of his journey to Italy was not published until 1774. The garden descriptions, like the essays, are distinguished by their inconclusive but fearless criticism: Montaigne wrote as he saw. The letters in which he described visits to gardens (included on the Garden History Reference Encyclopedia) include: Augusta, Pratolino, Villa Castello, Villa D'Este, Villa Lante, Palazzo Farnese ar Caprarola.
