Étienne de La Boétie (Sarlat, November 1st, 1530 - Germignan , August 18, 1563) was a French judge and writer, friend of Montaigne, author of the Discours of Voluntary Servitude (Discours de la servitude volontaire).

He served with Montaigne in the Bordeaux parlement and is immortalized in Montaigne’s essay on friendship. La Boétie’s writings include a few sonnets, translations from the classics, and an essay attacking absolute monarchy, Discours sur la servitude.

Works

• Text on Wikisource (French)
• Text on Wikisource (English)
• http://www.forget-me.net/LaBoetie/ (PDF, LaTeX format)

Bibliography

• Œuvres complètes, Editions William Blake & Co., 1991. ISBN 2-905810602
• Discours de la servitude volontaire, Editions Mille et une nuits, 1997. ISBN 2-910233944
• Discours de la servitude volontaire, Editions Flammarion, 1993. ISBN 2-080703943