Le projet éditorial de Marie de Gournay

Marie de Gournay’s career in the literary field begins when she publishes the first posthumous edition of Montaigne’s Essais in 1595. Referring to her unique relationship with the well-known writer, she considers herself as the only authorized person to look after the celebrated masterpiece by her « père d’alliance » [adoptive father]. By her editorial work, she mainly aims at defending the authenticity of her edition against all the accusations of exploiting Montaigne’s reputation in order to make her own way as a woman of letters. Taking into account both the multiple editions of the Essais by Marie de Gournay following their author’s death and her Preface to her initial edition of Montaigne’s masterpiece (1595), this contribution focuses on the evaluation of the tireless promotion and the assiduous editorial labors of this woman in the reception of her father’s renowned work