One of the most important essays on religious tolerance and freedom of thought, a French bestseller in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks In 1762 Jean Calas, a merchant from Toulouse, was executed after being falsely accused of killing his son. As it became clear that Calas was in fact persecuted for being a Protestant, Voltaire began a campaign to get his sentence overturned-and in the process made the case for some of the most important values...

Voltaire (1694-1778), best remembered as the author of Candide, is one of the central actors — arguably the defining personality — of the European Enlightenment. In this Very Short Introduction, Nicholas Cronk explores Voltaire's remarkable career and demonstrates how his thinking is pivotal to our notion and understanding of the Enlightenment. In a fresh and modern examination of his writings, Cronk examines the nature of Voltaire's literary...

Young Dalessius arrives in a foreign port and is quickly swept up into a world of mystery and intrigue. The ancient art of calligraphy is given mystical significance, hidden messages are written on human canvases and conspiracy threatens his life. "Un forastero Ilamado Dalessius llega a un puerto con el corazón dse Voltaire en un frasco y la obsesión no menos terrible por una mujer. Con estos elementos iniciales y el trasfondo de las ruinas del...