Originally published in 1937, this book contains a short series of relatively independent studies, each seeking 'examples of introspection in a literature which is reputed to be rich with them', namely French autobiography. Mansell Jones examines the work of authors such as Montaigne, Maine de Biran and Sénancour to find examples of 'the disinterested investigation of a mind by itself' and to suggest a balance between 'inner and outer cultivation'. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in French literature and the history of autobiography.