Voltaire's turbulent relationship with the courts of law of ancien regime France reveals much about his social and political thought, but its representation in many studies of the philosophe is often simplistic and distorted. In the first in-depth study of Voltaire and the parlements James Hanrahan looks afresh at this relationship to offer a new and challenging analysis of Voltaire's political thought and activity. Through examination of Voltaire's evolving representation of the parlements in his writings from La Henriade to the Histoire du parlement, Hanrahan calls into question the dominant historiography of extremes that pits Voltaire 'defender of the oppressed' against 'self-interested' magistrates. He presents a much more nuanced view of the relationship, from which the philosophe emerges as a highly pragmatic figure whose political philosophy was inseparable from his business or humanitarian interests. In Voltaire and the 'parlements' of France Hanrahan opens up analysis of Voltaire's politics, and provides a new context for future study of the writer as both historiographer and campaigner for justice.

In 1766, while Voltaire was heavily involved in the Sirven case, he was also busy defending his own reputation. His "Lettre pastorale a Monsieur l'archeveque d'Auch" and "Satire contre Monsieur Lefranc de Pompignan" perpetuated feuds against old enemies, while his "Petit Commentaire" called for greater tolerance for the philosophes in general. A biography of Henri IV that made no reference to Voltaire's work as a historian impelled him to write the scathing "Le President de Thou justifie". An unauthorised, maliciously edited collection of his letters, which was potentially damaging to the Sirven campaign, prompted the "Appel au public contre un recueil de pretendues lettres". But Voltaire reserved his harshest treatment for Rousseau and the Genevan pastor Jacob Vernet. The "Lettre au docteur Jean-Jacques Pansophe", a litany of apparent contradictions in Rousseau's works, appeared in England during Rousseau's stay there. It was followed by the "Lettre de Monsieur de Voltaire a Monsieur Hume", giving Voltaire's account of Rousseau's life, and by "Notes" on that letter. Vernet was ridiculed in the "Lettre curieuse de Monsieur Robert Covelle" and the "Eloge de l'hypocrisie". The shorter verse presents a more affable side to Voltaire as he flatters nobles, writers and younger women.

The "Precis du siecle de Louis XV" is Voltaire's vivid and engaging account of his own era. This third and final volume contains the full text of the "Histoire de la guerre de 1741", a detailed account of the war of Austrian succession from the French perspective and written by Voltaire in his capacity of royal historiographer. The work was later partially subsumed into the Precis itself, and has rarely been edited as a separate text until now. Editorial notes help to place this work in the context of the later Precis and explain how Voltaire refined his text and altered his perspective. It provides an invaluable insight into the evolution of the text into its final form, and sheds light on Voltaire's working methods and creative process.