The comedy "L'Envieux" is a thinly veiled allegory of the Cirey
household and of Desfontaines's underhand manoeuvres against it.
With the publication of Desfontaines's "Voltairomanie" in December
1738, Voltaire had to abandon the idea of having the play
performed. Instead he set to work on a tragedy, "Zulime", the story
of a princess in love with a slave who is already married. Even
though the play was not the hoped-for success that would silence
his detractors, Voltaire continued to revise it and to have it
privately performed for many years. Meanwhile the printer Ledet was
publishing an edition of Voltaire's works, surreptitiously
including the banned "Lettres philosophiques". Voltaire's "Memoire"
on the edition serves the double function of pointing out all that
is new as well as the printer's many errors. The "Epitre a un
ministre d'Etat" is another text that underwent significant
revisions over the years. Originally addressed to Maurepas -
perhaps in gratitude for his help in the Desfontaines affair - the
epistle seems also to have been intended for Frederick. As
Voltaire's relationship with both men deteriorated, so the poem was
transformed from a tribute to patronage to a lament on the plight
of the arts.
General
Imprint: |
Voltaire Foundation
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Series: |
Complete Works of Voltaire, 18B |
Release date: |
July 2007 |
Editors: |
Russell Goulbourne
• Jacqueline Hellegouarc'h
• Nicholas Cronk
|
Authors: |
Voltaire
|
Dimensions: |
230 x 155mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
490 |
Edition: |
Critical edition |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-7294-0894-3 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-7294-0894-9 |
Barcode: |
9780729408943 |
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