18th Century British History - Georgian Era (1715-1837), Europe - Civilization, European Fiction & Literature Classics, Classics By Subject, Modern Philosophy - 17th & 18th Century
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Overview
Best known for his philosophical novel Candide, Voltaire ranked among the leading intellectuals of the Enlightenment period. This collection confirms the philosopher's reputation for displays of irrepressible genius and individuality. Voltaire's two-and-a-half-year sojourn in England (the direct result of his banishment from Paris for offending an aristocrat) left a profound impression on the rational observer and free-thinking moralist. Written as though explaining English society to a friend back in France, the letters focus on religion and politics, with commentaries on Quakers, the Church of England, Presbyterians, Anti-Trinitarians. Parliament, the government, and commerce. In addition, there are essays on Locke, Descartes, and Newton. Voltaire was deeply influenced by the degree of tolerance he saw practiced among Londoners: "If there were only one religion in England, there would be danger of tyranny; if there were two, they would cut each other's throats; but here are thirty, and they live happily together in peace." This concept of a cultural diversity as a cornerstone for a thriving and tranquil society sounded a revolutionary note among European readers that resonated for many years afterward. First published in English translation in 1733, Philosophical Letters appeared in France a year later; Voltaire's paean to tolerance was condemned by the French government as "likely to inspire a license of thought most dangerous to religion and civil order." This provocative work remains a landmark from the literature of the Age of Reason.Book Details
Published
June 1, 1961
Publisher
Bobbs-Merrill Co
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780672603266