The first of three volumes of Voltaire's writings of 1746-1748, containing a major tragedy ("Semiramis", edited by Robert Niklaus), a comedy ("La Femme qui a raison", edited by Russell Goulbourne and Mark Waddicor), as well as the "Discours de M. de Voltaire a sa reception a l'academie francaise", edited by Karlis Raveskis, and Voltaire's shorter verse of 1746-1748, edited by R. A. Nablow. It underscores how Voltaire deployed his consummate skill as a writer across the full breadth of genres and forms, establishing himself as a multifaceted public intellectual.

1728-1730 were for Voltaire years of self-examination as he returned to the French literary world after his exile in England. His literary output was sparse, as he worked hard to cement his established reputation in the tragic theatre, with plays that attempt to reconcile his admiration for Shakespearian drama with classical training and the expectations of a Parisian audience. These early works, such as Voltaire's bitter denunciation of official prejudice "La Mort de Mademoiselle Lecouvreur", contain the seeds of the social and political philosophy he would work to cohere, centered on hatred of tyranny and superstition, and opposition to war. Contributors: Ahmad Gunny, Robert Niklaus, Nicole Masson and John Renwick.