The year 1733 was the last before the momentous scandal over the "Lettres philosophiques" which led to a new life for Voltaire at Cirey. With hindsight it can be read as a prefatory period, full of restive episodes and apprehension. Even "Zaire", a great success at the Comedie-Francaise in 1732-1733, took on a controversial edge when Voltaire wished to give it to a highly unorthodox, polemical dedication. Similar doubts about Voltaire's respect for authority are inspired by "Le Temple du gout", which was published without official permission from the censors. Despite the unease from both his political and personal disputes, Voltaire's prodigious literary activity continues unabated, and includes philosophical works, satires, poetry and a "Vie de Moliere" which remains fascinating for its encounter of minds between two of France's most gifted comic authors.

En avril 1764 parait anonymement un recueil intitule "Contes de Guillaume Vade": il comprend sept contes en vers, deux en prose, et un assortiment heteroclite de textes dont certains ont deja ete publies, et qui laissent donc peu de doutes sur l'identite de l'auteur. Reimprime et pirate a maintes reprises, cet ouvrage rencontre un franc succes, et permet a Voltaire de faire preuve de son talent de conteur tout en diffusant des ecrits polemiques dont plusieurs s'inscrivent dans le cadre de sa lutte contre l'infame.

Following the explosive, unauthorised publication of the "Lettres philosophiques", which revealed a new side of Voltaire to the world, a new chapter of his life began at Cirey with his lover Mme Du Chatelet. Nine years were to pass before he could again live openly in Parisian society. However, this period was among the most creative of Voltaire's life and the multifarious projects of 1734-1735 show an author attacked and exiled but nevertheless able to turn his hand to an astounding range of projects. This volume includes texts as diverse as "Alzire", a tragedy set in sixteenth-century Peru, contrasting the noblest ideals of Christianity to both Incan religion and the dangerous fanaticism of the Conquistadors, the monumental "Traite de metaphysique", and some of Voltaire's first love poems to the marquise Du Chatelet.