The Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment series, previously known as SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century), has published over 500 peer-reviewed scholarly volumes since 1955 as part of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of Oxford. International in focus, Oxford University Studies in the Enlightenment volumes cover wide-ranging aspects of the eighteenth century and the Enlightenment, from gender studies to political theory, and from economics to visual arts and music, and are published in English or French.

The year 1749 was to prove a sombre one for Voltaire. His relationships with Mme Du Chatelet and Mme Denis were both in highly emotional and uncertain stages, culminating in Voltaire's utter devastation at the death of Mme Du Chatelet in September, and his ensuing need to lay the foundations of a new existence, initially in Paris and with his oldest friends. It is against this backdrop that one must envisage his literary activities in 1749. This year saw the highly successful comedy "Nanine" published, together with propaganda works arguing in favour of increasing the commodity and beauty of Paris, the capital from which he spent so much of his life an exile. At a time of crisis for Voltaire both in his personal relations and at court, he also wrote a the poem 'La vie de Paris et de Versailles' which acts as a love poem to Mme Denis as much as a satire on Parisian society.

"La Vie de Monsieur Jean-Baptiste Rousseau", redigee au printemps 1738 mais dont la virulence excluait la publication, est la biographie tendancieuse d'un ennemi jure. L'un des multiples chefs d'accusation contre Rousseau etait son arrivisme. Voltaire traite du meme theme a la fin de l'annee sur un registre bien plus gai: la comedie des "Originaux", dans laquelle un soi-disant aristocrate est entoure de personnages tous plus excentriques les uns que les autres, s'inspire du theatre de la Restauration anglaise pour neutraliser la vogue de la comedie sentimentale. "Sur Messieurs Jean Law, Melon, et Dutot" revele l'interet de Voltaire pour l'economie. Rendant compte des ecrits de Melon, autrefois secretaire du celebre financier Law, et de ceux de Dutot, employe de la Compagnie des Indes, Voltaire note d'un ton approbateur que 'jamais les belles-lettres n'ont ete si liees avec la finance'. "De la gloire, ou entretien avec un Chinois", ou figure un Chinois negociant et lettre, reitere que la litterature et les affaires sont 'deux choses qui ne devraient point du tout etre incompatibles', et emploie le regard de l'etranger pour remettre en question la conception euro-centrique de l'histoire et de la religion.

At the beginning of 1736, Voltaire was at the height of his success, receiving praise from the public and fellow-poets alike. The breathtaking breadth of Voltaire's activity this year ranges from comedy, "L'Enfant Prodigue", and a major philosophical poem, "Le Mondain", to public and private verse, including one of his most arresting satires in "Le Crepinade", aimed at Jean-Baptiste Rousseau. Voltaire relished the diversity of his literary output, as he did the stimulation of his burgeoning scientific interests and lively correspondence. However, despite the popular acclaim, literary quarrels and lawsuits caused continuous tension, forcing Voltaire by the end of the year, to flee France and the 'persecution' his fame had brought him.

En 1775 Voltaire prete sa plume a d'Etallonde, condamne a mort par contumace presque dix ans plus tot, mais le "Cri du sang innocent" n'obtient malheureusement pas sa rehabilitation. Voltaire aura plus de succes dans les negociations prolongees qui liberent le pays de Gex d'impots excessifs. Son interet pour le commerce et la taxation est de nouveau en evidence dans sa "Diatribe a l'auteur des Ephemerides". Il revient a des preoccupations plus litteraires lorsqu'il reevalue, en vers ("Le Dimanche, ou les filles de Minee") et en prose ("Lettre de Monsieur de La Visclede"), la reputation des oeuvres de La Fontaine, ou lorsqu'il reagit a une satire defavorable aux philosophes.

1739-1741 were stressful but highly creative years for Voltaire, his output ranging from science to polemic, from politics to poetry. Scientific research remains at the forefront, with Voltaire championing Newton's theories despite the opposition of the scientific establishment. Voltaire was in this period anxious to consolidate his reputation, and his continuing reflections on the nature of a literary career led to the publication of both his personalised "Memoire du sieur de Voltaire" and more general reflections on literary quarrels in "Memoire sur le satire". Public quarrels had become an integral part of the 'Republic of Letters' and Voltaire's disillusionment is clear in "Lettres sur les inconvenients attaches a la litterature". His verse ranges from crude satire to some of his most touching lyric poetry in the "Stances a Madame Du Chatelet". Altogether, this collection brings together the complex and contrasting works of a complex and flexible writer.

1737 was a year in which Voltaire was in great danger from his political enemies and in place of literary work, threw himself into Newtonian metaphysics, focussing on an "Essai sur la nature du feu, et sur sa propagation" for the prestigious Academie des sciences annual essay prize. Clarifying his 'systeme de morale' on human happiness and liberty, Voltaire wrote seven "Discours en vers sur l'homme" and was also inspired to write "Le Songe de Platon", a conte philosophique contesting Plato's social ideas. He also began the tragedy most acclaimed during his lifetime, the classically-inspired "Merope".