Summary

This "fictional essay" takes the form of a literary review of the work of the deceased French symbolist and poet Pierre Menard. The narrator is prompted to write the essay after reading a recent article by Madame Henri Bachelier, who he believes has not done justice to Menard's accomplishments. Therefore, this review is written to set the record straight. While admittedly not a great authority on Menard's work, the narrator believes that testimonies from the Baroness de Barcourt and Countess de Bagnoregio will lend authority to this review.

The essay begins by listing a detailed, chronological account of Menard's work, which includes various obscure sonnets, biographical monographs and numerous translations. After presenting the catalog, the narrator suggests that Menard's most important work is his body of unfinished writings, which take the form of selected readings based on Don Quixote.

The narrator...