Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1753, Voltaire-playwright, poet, philosopher and one of the most feted figures in Europe-was forced by Louis XV and his powerful mistress Madame Pompadour into exile, where he remained for the last twenty-five years of his life. During his years in Geneva, on the outskirts of France, Voltaire carved out a new world in isolation, becoming a successful entrepreneur, writing his masterpiece Candide, and lavishing gifts upon those around him. But it was as a figure cast out by the establishment that Voltaire began to develop his astonishingly modern ideas of human rights and social equality, borne out in his campaigns against a series of miscarriages of justice. In Voltaire in Exile, Ian Davidson recreates this period in the life of one of the giants of the Enlightenment. By painstakingly translating the rich correspondence between Voltaire and his family, members of the Court at Versailles, and the French intellectual elite, Davidson allows us to discover Voltaire the artist, the campaigner, the aesthete, the lover, the humorist. The result is a wonderfully vivid portrait of this extraordinarily funny, iconoclastic, complex, and, above all, ferociously intelligent individual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Voltaire Exalted
Having been reminded of Voltaire from reading recent works on James Boswell and Benjamin Franklin, I found this very admirable book by Ian Davidson to be the remedy to my general ignorance about this great figure from the past. It is not the source to learn about Voltaire's early days or as the noted author of plays. However, from this book one can get a good feel for why Voltaire was, and remains, so important as the symbol of a thinking and witty man, living in an age often marked by severe religious, judicial, and political intolerance. He led a long, full life while often acting generously to improve the troubled lot of real humans. ... Read more

Product Description
Voltaire's rests, one of the most important philosophers of the world were profaned more than a century ago. The only part left is his heart and it's kept in the National Library of France, but how can they prove that it's really the great philosopher's heart? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Intriguing Historical Fiction
If you like historical research, you'll love this book. If you don't, you'll love it anyway. El Corazón de Voltaire is an entertaining and intriguing historical fiction about mystery, persistence, principles and politics. It catches your attention since the very beginning. Using a simple prose, it succeeds to maintain your curiosity until the last line. Email by email among French public servants, academicians and even members of Catholic Church, you witness a drama that started with a very simple question: Does the relic of the Great French writer of the XVIII Century that keeps the French government in the National Library of Paris is authentic? The answer could change history forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bringing Voltaire in context
"Voltaire's politics", by Peter Gay, provides a comprehensive context to all there is to Voltaire. Throughout the book, the main focus is upon Voltaire's sociopolitical and intellectual development, and how hetranslated these ideas into his poems, plays, letters, philosophical andpolitical writings, not to mention how these ideas were subsequentlybrought into practice and converted into action, since Voltaire was verymuch a social activist avant-la-lettre. Thus the book is not so much abiography (for such one should consult Theodore Besterman's"Voltaire"), but is invaluable as to thoroughy understand whatVoltaire stood for, why he acted as he did, and how he came to develop hisideas as he did. Though mr. Gay may admire Voltaire, the book is by nomeans prejudiced, but rather open-minded and fair in its judgements. Thefact that this book was intended as a scholarly contribution to the debateon Voltaire has not made it any more difficult to read. Again, as withprof. Gay's brilliant "The Enlightenment, an interpretation", itis very entertaining and a joy to read. This book is in particular suitableto those studying any of the social sciences, history or philosophy. ... Read more

Book Description
Philosophy is one of the most intimidating and difficult of disciplines, as any of its students can attest. This book is an important entry in a distinctive new series from Routledge: The Great Philosophers. Breaking down obstacles to understanding the ideas of history's greatest thinkers, these brief, accessible, and affordable volumes offer essential introductions to the great philosophers of the Western tradition from Plato to Wittgenstein.
In just 64 pages, each author, a specialist on his subject, places the philosopher and his ideas into historical perspective. Each volume explains, in simple terms, the basic concepts, enriching the narrative through the effective use of biographical detail. And instead of attempting to explain the philosopher's entire intellectual history, which can be daunting, this series takes one central theme in each philosopher's work, using it to unfold the philosopher's thoughts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An Interesting Iconclasm
This short book shows how easy it is to treat Voltaire as passe. While Voltaire was a visionary in the 18th century, Gray uses a contempory perspective to dwell on Voltaire's elitism and lack of political theory.Like the American founders Voltaire's idea of freedom was often limited to the aristocracy. Unlike the American founders Voltaire never saw aconnection between civil liberty and democratic poltical theory. Voltaire's ideas about "enlightened despotism" now seem daftly quaint. Gray is correct in pointing out these limitations and his book counter balances the hagiography of previous Voltaire studies(like Will Durant) but it keeps him from appreciating Voltaire's positive contributions.

You Have Got To Be Kidding!
Having read several of the other reviews posted here on John Gray's book, "Voltaire", it is hard to find words that would enhance the chorus of denigration. This is quiet literally a "dumb" book, meaning any who read this will be struck dumb by it's intellectual vacuousness. My only additional comment would be that the editor(s) of this series failed miserably. By allowing this book to be published under the guise of representing a critical appraisal of a philospher, something the Great Philosophers series purports to be, ( I am referring, of course, to "critical" as in objective, not negative), they have called the whole series into question and cheapened the discussion of philosophy in general.

Not very useful to anyone
I bought this slim 53 page volume hoping to get a little background on Voltaire's life, work, and philosophy. But for a book so obviously intended as an introduction to Voltaire, Gray's book instead is a scathing criticism, using basic introductory level information on Voltaire and the Enlightenment era as examples to make his argument. His conclusion- that "Voltaire's 'philosophy' has little to teach us," and that his work was heavily flawed and derivative in its time, and too "difficult" and "irrelevant for the modern reader." If this is true, then why was the book commisionned, and why am I reading it? The book is neither a suitable introduction to Voltaire, or a scholarly work of any noticeable merit, since the author never goes even remotely in depth enough to explain his positions. I can't believe this was written by a college professor. What was he on? For a better introduction to Voltaire, read his novella Candide, an excellent and hilarious little novel that raises questions that perhaps Gray would prefer to avoid.

Chaos of unclear ideas
I read this book this morning and I found it very poor.He tells what Voltairewas thinking and ideas and concepts that he says Voltaire would not be able to understand or ever express, yet gives no clear examples to back up any of it.No one is expecting a chapter of examples, but at least give me ONE!

I hated this book.Gray lists all of Voltaire's faults and concentrates on the negative.His over-reliance on Nietzsche and his inclusion of de Sade(!) swayed me to the view that Gray does not understand the Enlightenment or the Philosophes in a thorough way.Potshots like "Nearly everything Voltaire wrote is unreadable today" made me angry.It's just nasty and not particularly valuable as a criticism since there are very few authors from that period that are still readable.Plus, someone once noted that Voltaire is not essential reading today because he WON.All the things he fought for are taken for granted today, essentially because he triumphed.Voltaire was the first soldier in the war for reason and he should be treated better than this.Gray just better be glad he's dead, because he would take him apart for this shabby piece of journalism.

If not for Voltaire, THIS book gets burned.
Alas, there are not few enough stars to rate this book fairly.It is a vacuous, bad joke.Who picked this small-minded and petty professor to write about a 'great one' in the history of human world changers?Gray sounds like one of those 'shallow, artificial and superficial 'professors' of knowledge who, 'like the gnats who ride in the race, only barely hanging on to the neck of the thoroughbred - and then criticize the way the the race was won'.Everyone involved in this sham-of-a-book should be ashamed - the author is clue-less as to the greatness and genius of Voltaire, and takes cheap and uninformed pot-shots at Voltaire.He pecks away from his little, isolated Ivory Tower - at one of the great thinkers/liberators in Western Civilization, at Voltaire, no less, who writes from the Bastille, and uses his wits to enlighten Europe and escape the Inquisition and the corrupt aristocarcracies who hounded him throughout his 70+ years of heoric satire.As they say..."When a pickpocket sees a saint - all he sees are the pockets"Don't waste your time or money, and please, do not support this publication.It's a disgrace and a diservice to a great soul who made it possible for trash like this to be published. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1733, the lovely, intelligent, and married Marquise du Chtelet commenced her romance with one Franois-Marie Arouet, a philosophe who had made a name for himself as "Voltaire." Mitford deftly and engagingly recounts their exemplary affair, whether in studious exile in the country, on the run from the censor, or in the "thoughtless circles of high society." Her portrayals of the "scamp" philosopher, his mistress who was "excessive in everything," and their "irregular century" are delightful portraits in themselves and as a group, a fascinating fresco of the French Enlightenment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Voltaire, his brilliant mistress, and the rest of the Enlightenment
Nancy Mitford's Voltaire in Love is an entertaining book, full of historic characters, revealing both their best and worst attributes in politics, society, the arts, and the bedroom.

The book is primarily about the long affair between Voltaire and his mistress, Mme. Emilie du Chatelet, which was certainly a meeting of two exceptionally brilliant minds of the Enlightenment. Yet the book really covers the early adult years of Voltaire and does not cover his later successes and fame.

Voltaire, a graduate of Louise-le-Grand Jesuit School, was a brilliant but sarcastic student, who became popular with his witty poems and plays. Yet his satire often went to far which on more than one occassion resulted in imprisonment in the Bastile. Like Moliere, Voltaire wrote witty comedy that appealed to the sophisticated upperclasses. Yet early in his career he is forced into exile to London where he wrote plays for Queen Caroline and King George. Gradually his star rose in the French court of Louis XV.Queen Marie Leczinska found him charming and gave him a pension. Louis XV also gave him a pension but was less comfortable with Voltaire than was his wife and his father in law, Stanislas Leczinska, ex-king of Poland. The king's famous mistress, Mme. Jeanne-Antoinette de Pompadour, was an admirer of Voltaire also and there is some evidence that she came to his rescue when he ran afoul of the censors of Louis XV. Thus much of the book is about the highest levels of French society and their impact on the arts, sciences, and humanities.

As is the case with many bright and opinionated thinkers, rivalry and jealousy and ambition create the conditions for long lasting enemies. This is the case between Voltaire and Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, a philosopher whom Voltaire seemed to disdain. However Voltaire's primary rivalry was with Abbe Desfontaines. Abbe Desfontaines was found molesting male adolescent chimney sweeps and was sentenced to burn at the stake for sodomy. Voltaire was one of his only allies and Desfontaine was saved. Yet, amazingly, Desfontaine became extremely critical and bitter and vindictive toward Voltaire leading the reader to recognize that no good deed goes unpunished.

The attempts of Frederick II of Prussia to lure Voltaire into his court was amazing underhanded strategy. Frederick II, creating a completely male homosexual court, seemed to be obsessed with Voltaire and secretly tried to undermine him in France so that offers to come to Prussia would be more appealing.

The book however is primarily about the affair of Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet. They were quite a pair, both studious and brilliant, who allowed each other ample space to think and create. Voltaire and Emilie both popularized the works of Sir Issac Newton and advanced the fields of science and mathematics. French scholarly society prefered to continue to support Descarte's theories, primarily because he was French, a loyalty that Voltaire saw as standing in the way of rational thought. The book takes us through the many journeys of Voltaire and Emily outside of their remote mansion in the countryside. We see Emilie struggle in a game of strategy with King Frederick II for the loyalty of Voltaire. We see Voltaire trying to be supportive during Emilie's outrageous gambling addition. Her son, Florent-Francois is virtually raised in a home with two fathers. Eventually Emilie falls into lust for the handsome bright Saint-Lambert and wishes to continue her 3 man life with a rich lenient legal husband, her older more mature lover who has become her best friend, and her younger sex toy boyfriend. Unfortunately she becomes pregnant with Saint-Lambert and at age 43 dies 2 days after giving birth.

Well written, well documented, engaging, entertaining, and full of witty satiric details, this is an accomplishment that you will enjoy.

dissapointing
it is NOT a biography. It is a bounch of events glued together. At times I felt lost because she jumps from one topic to another and makes the reader confused when she throws a few strange sounding names without explaining who they were. As for the research of the subject I can't comment on the french part, however, on the polish side, the author didn't do a whole lot research because she couldn't even spell the name of an ex-King of Poland correctly! It's Stanis³aw Leszczyñski, not Stanislas Leczinski!!! She also undermines the linguistic abilities of the readers, thinking maybe that no-one but the French can really figure out the french language. I would not recommend this book if you really want to learn something about Voltaire and his love life, because there was no love life in that book!!

The book that inspired "A Visit From Voltaire"
The hilarious modern comedy featuring the Ghost of Voltaire returning to the 21st century, "A Visit From Voltaire" Visit from Voltaire, Acites this book as one of the main sources for the period spanning the love affair of Madame de Chatelet and the King of the Englightenment, Voltaire. Another book that updates this information is Passionate Minds by David Boganis,Passionate Minds: The Great Love Affair of the Enlightenment, Featuring the Scientist Emilie du Chatelet, the Poet Voltaire, Sword Fights, Book Burnings, Assorted Kings, but this is the book that hooked me first.And it remains one of the best books to date, despite a few little hitches in her facts, for readability, entertainment and capturing the spirit of Voltaire's middle years. Anybody who reads it will finish with a wonderful understanding of the man's energy, resilience and courage. A must.

The Candid Voltaire
Nancy Mitford was a brilliant writer, and the bedrock of virtually all her works - even the histories - was satire.And, true to the first law of all satirists, she takes no prisoners, even in dealing with such luminaries as Voltaire and his lover, Mme du Chatelet.From the very start, for instance, she tells us that Voltaire rarely had any original thoughts: his true genius was in his turn of phrase.In fact, to Mme du Chatelet's great embarassment, he was likely impotent, was virtually banished from Versailles, flirted outrageously with the openly gay King Frederick of Prussia and, later, developed an infatuation for his own niece.

Mme du Chatelet does rather better in Mitford's estimation - she is portrayed as a gifted scientist and an independently important literary figure - but as a lover, she too is deeply flawed.Time and again, she drove Voltaire close to bankruptcy with her gambling debts.And her premature death was brought on by childbirth - not Voltaire's baby, mind, but those of her "toy boy" lover.Yet it is clear that, for all that, she had met in Voltaire her true life partner, and within their own adulterous union, they tolerated each other's infidelities with good grace.

A classic chronicle of human foibles by an author who is utterly unintimidated by her biographical subjects.

Solid biographies::the love story is the backdrop
I couldn't put this book down, and tore through it in a matter of days.Despite being a voracious reader, it's (sadly) seldom that such a book comes along for me.The main draw for me in purchasing this book is being an avid fan of Voltaire.I had wondered just how strongly the "love story" element of the book would play out, as I'd known prior to purchasing this book that all of the intimate correspondence between Voltaire and Emilie has been lost.I'm not a "love story" kind of person, and was hoping this book would provide more of a strong picture into the personalities, foibles, strengths, habits, and routines of Voltaire primarily, and Emilie secondarily.I was not disappointed.

If you count yourself a lover of Voltaire -- the man and his writings -- then this book is truly a must-read for you.I've read much of his essays, philosophy, short stories, et cetera, and finally (to my immense delight) feel I "know" the man.

The personalities and temperaments of both Voltaire and Emilie were rather as I'd figured they would be, although there were a couple of genuine surprises -- some flattering, some not so flattering.

What continues to make me curious is how these two persons defined the word "love"...the dynamics of their relationship and love was interesting, and sometimes confusing, to say the very least.Ah well, I'm speaking of dead persons here.Respect for their personages and for the deceased prohibit me from going further.And besides, after nine years of marriage, I too admit the word "love" has a myriad of nuances.

Please enjoy this book!Ecrasez l'infame! ... Read more

Book Description
Born in the final years of the seventeenth century, and dying a decade before the beginning of the French Revolution, Voltaire was a quintessential figure of the eighteenth century, so much so that this era is sometimes called the Age of Voltaire. At a time when French culture dominated Europe, Voltaire dominated French culture. His influence was broad and powerful, and he made major contributions to almost every sphere of intellectual activity, including the sciences, trade and commerce, politics, and especially the arts. Despite the astonishing range of his literary activities, the theatre occupied a central position in his life from the beginning of his career to its close. His first and last literary triumphs were plays, the first written when he was only 17, the last completed when he was 84. He created a total of 56, and there was rarely a time in his life when he was not working on a theatrical script. At the end of his career, his works were produced more frequently on the French stage than those of any other serious dramatist and served as models for aspiring young playwrights throughout Europe. Written by a leading authority on French theatre and culture in the eighteenth century, this book traces the theatrical career of Voltaire from his college days through his final works. The most influential dramatist of the period, he successfully wrote in a number of genres, including tragedy, comedy, opera, comic opera, and court spectacle. His theatrical biography involves all aspects of acting and staging in amateur and society theatre as well as on major professional stages and performances at court. His extended visits to England and Germany are covered in chapters that also provide an introduction to the theatre in those countries, and his international interests and correspondence provide insights into the eighteenth century theatre in places such as Italy, Russia, and Denmark. Due to his literally life-long concern with the theatre, his dominance in this art, and his reputation and involvement with the theatre outside France, Voltaire's theatrical biography is also in large measure a chronicle of the European stage of the eighteenth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good
This is one of the better biographies of Voltaire, and would be useful to those who have never studied the man and those who are quite familar with him. In addition to providing a fairly thorough outline of the events of Voltaire's life (it would require a massive, multivolume work for a complete picture of the man), this book also properly puts Voltaire in the context of the 18th Century Enlightenment, of which he was the brightest light.
While highly-researched and scholarly, it is also very readable and does not descend into the pedantic writing style so many academics are guilty of. Both the professional scholar and the interested layperson would find this work valuable. ... Read more