author
Marie Le Jars de Gournay
1565–1645
A fearless French writer and early feminist, she argued for women’s intellectual equality at a time when that view was rare. She is also remembered as the devoted editor and literary heir of Michel de Montaigne’s Essays.
1 Audiobook
Egalité des hommes et des femmes : A la Reyne
by Marie Le Jars de Gournay
About the author
Born in Paris in 1565, Marie Le Jars de Gournay became largely self-taught and built a reputation as one of the most learned women of her time. She is often described as an early feminist because she defended women’s education and argued that women and men were fundamentally equal in intellect and worth.
Gournay is closely linked with Michel de Montaigne. After admiring his work, she met him and later became known as his "adopted daughter" in a literary sense. After his death, she helped preserve his legacy by editing and publishing important editions of the Essais, which made her a key figure in the history of French letters.
She also wrote boldly in her own voice. Her best-known works include The Equality of Men and Women and The Ladies' Grievance, texts that challenged the prejudices of her age and made a lasting mark on the history of feminist thought. She died in 1645, leaving behind a body of work that still feels strikingly modern.