Voltaire
Letters on England gathers together Voltaire's essays about his time in England between 1726 and 1728. Comparable to Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy in America, Voltaire looks at English culture as an outsider, giving its culture, society and governing institutions a favorable comparison to their French counterparts.
Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire's novel Zadig, or The Book of Fate skillfully weaves the story of its ancient Babylonian philosopher. Not trying for adherence to history, Voltaire's story is full of thinly veiled references to the social and political issues his own time. This appropriately philosophical work holds up human life as being led by destiny beyond our control. The moral transformations that take place within Zadig tell of
...In the course of his travels in Europe and South America, Candide sees and suffers such misfortune that it is difficult for him to believe that this is "the best of all possible worlds," as Dr. Pangloss has assured him. Indeed, it seems to...
4) Candide
Every lover of classic literature should read Candide, the satirical masterpiece that shocked Paris upon its publication in 1759. The novel challenges many of the core assertions of Enlightenment philosophy and calls into question vast swaths of Christian dogma. Though widely banned after its publication, it propelled Voltaire to literary stardom and remains one of the most popular French novels ever written.
6) Candide
French Enlightenment thinker Voltaire saw much to admire in Russian emperor Peter the Great. Most significantly, Voltaire admired Peter's tireless efforts to drag Russia from its medieval mindset and thrust it into an age of rationality. This exhaustive biography focuses more on Peter's philosophy and values than his wartime exploits.