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Composees a la demande de Louise-Dorothee de Saxe-Meiningen,
admiratrice des ecrits historiques de Voltaire qui souhaitait lire
une histoire du Saint Empire Romain Germanique issue de sa plume,
les Annales de l'Empire se presentent comme le pendant de l'Abrege
chronologique de l'histoire de France de Henault, ainsi que des
Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de la maison de Brandebourg de
Frederic II, que Voltaire avait lus a Potsdam en 1751. Flatte,
l'historien se mit a la tache, heureux de pouvoir opposer une liste
d'empereurs aux electeurs de Frederic. Ainsi propose-t-il
l'histoire de l'Empire depuis Charlemagne jusqu'a Charles VI, dont
la mort en 1740 donna lieu a la guerre de Succession d'Autriche,
conflit dont la memoire allemande conservait encore le plus vif
souvenir. L'ouvrage est compose a une allure rapide, Voltaire
puisant dans les bibliotheques privees des amis qui le recoivent a
tour de role au cours de ses peregrinations en 1753. Que le texte
contienne des erreurs n'est guere surprenant, mais il ne merite pas
de tomber dans l'oubli: comme toujours, le jugement personnel de
Voltaire, historien et philosophe, apporte une perspective nouvelle
aux evenements et aux personnages qui forment un corps qu'il
declare 'ni saint, ni empire, ni romain'.
This volume brings together a range of miscellaneous short texts by
Voltaire, mostly undated and principally manuscript fragments. From
thoughts on the souls of animals, to how he organised his papers to
a joke proxy granting unlimited powers to act on his behalf, these
scraps shed light on Voltaire's working methods and on the possible
subjects of texts that he never published. Most notably, it
contains a supplement adding nineteen fragments to the edition of
Voltaire's Notebooks (OCV, vol.81-82). Contributors: David Adams,
Andrew Brown, Marie-Helene Cotoni, Nicholas Cronk, Jean Dagen,
Stephanie Gehanne Gavoty, Myrtille Mericam-Bourdet, Christiane
Mervaud, Gillian Pink, John Renwick, Gerhardt Stenger, David
Williams.
This volume contains the general introduction to Voltaire's work of
global history. Written by an international team of experts, the
introduction covers the genesis, publication and reception of the
work, as well as offering a detailed analysis of Voltaire's
historical vision. It also benefits from a full bibliography of
editions published in Voltaire's lifetime. An indispensable
resource for historians and students of the Enlightenment.
Au cours des derniers mois de la vie, Voltaire se consacre a un
projet de grande envergure, ses "Dialogues d'Evhemere", qui font la
synthese de sa pensee en matiere de religion et de philosophie.
L'entree triomphale a Paris sera par la suite l'occasion de
retrouvailles avec l'Academie francaise, pour laquelle Voltaire
projette un nouveau dictionnaire de langue francaise, ouvrage qui
ne verra malheureusement pas le jour. Les Comediens-Francais de
meme recoivent sa derniere esquisse de tragedie, "Agathocle". Ce
volume regroupe egalement de nombreux courts textes de cette
periode, y compris le poeme "Les Adieux a la vie".
Contents: Discours de Maitre Belleguier, ancien avocat, sur le
texte propose par l'universite de la ville de Paris, pour le sujet
des prix de l'annee 1773 Edition critique par John Renwick. Le
Philosophe par Monsieur Du Marsay Edition critique par Nicholas
Cronk. Lettre anonyme adressee aux auteurs du 'Journal
encyclopedique' au sujet d'une nouvelle epitre de Boileau a
Monsieur de Voltaire Critical edition by Nicholas Cronk. Lettre sur
la pretendue comete Critical edition by Robert L. Walters. Voltaire
et l'affaire Morangies 1773 Editions critiques par John Renwick.
Fragment sur le proces criminel de Monbailli Edition critique par
John Renwick. La Tactique Critical edition by John R. Iverson.
Aventure de la memoire Edition critique par John RenwickFragment
d'une lettre sur les dictionnaires satiriques avec La Reponse a
cette lettre par Monsieur de Morza, edition critique par Jeroom
Vercruysse. Shorter verse of 1773 Critical edition by Simon
Davies."
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.
This edition of Voltaire's "Fragments sur l'Inde" is the first ever
scholarly critical edition of a neglected historical text from his
later years. The work, first published in 1773, sees Voltaire
returning to the subject of Indian history, which had interested
him since the first drafts of the "Essai sur les moeurs" in the
1740s. Inspired by the prospect of rehabilitating the memory of the
executed General Lally, the "Fragments sur l'Inde" are in two
parts: the first explores recent colonial enterprises in India and
the disastrous Pondicherry campaign, which was to cost Lally his
life; while the second is a more general meditation on Indian
history, religion and customs. This volume also contains a text
attributable to Voltaire, the "Mandement du muphti, suivi d'un
Decret du divan".
Ce volume contient les articles que Voltaire redigea pour
l'Encyclopedie, ainsi que ceux pour la quatrieme edition du
Dictionnaire de l'Academie (1762).
Ce volume contient plusieurs textes importants de Voltaire composes
en 1766/1767: la "Relation de la mort du chevalier La Barre", qui
fait partie de la lutte voltairienne contre l'infame; les "Lettres
a Son Altesse Monseigneur le prince de ***", dans lesquelles
Voltaire fait l'apologie de certains ecrivains 'antichretiens',
precurseurs de l'esprit philosophique; et "Les Honnetetes
litteraires", un 'compendium de traits d'erudition, de droiture et
de charite'.
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.
"Herode et Mariamne" est la troisieme tragedie de Voltaire. Une
premiere version echoua de facon spectaculaire lors de sa premiere
en 1724, les railleries du parterre ayant provoque un tel desordre
dans la salle que les dernieres parties de la piece ne purent etre
entendues. Cette representation resta sans suite. Voltaire supprima
aussitot la premiere "Herode et Mariamne", dont seulement quelques
fragments nous sont parvenus, et se mit a retravailler la tragedie.
Un an plus tard, une nouvelle version connut un sort bien plus
favorable. Jouee plus de vingt-cinq fois par la Comedie francaise,
elle devint le grand succes de la saison de 1725. Malgre les
critiques qu'elle attira de la part de certains, la reussite de la
deuxieme "Herode et Mariamne" confirma la suprematie de Voltaire
dans la vie theatrale et litteraire contemporaine. Apres 1726, les
representations devinrent moins frequentes, mais dans les annees
1750 "Herode et Mariamne" connut plusieurs reprises tres
appreciees, avec le renomme Lekain dans le role d'Herode. En 1762,
Voltaire refondit encore la piece, en substituant l'essenien Soheme
au preteur romain Varus. Cette derniere version, jouee en 1763,
n'eut que deux representations, et fut assez froidement recue. Peu
apres le succes de la "Herode et Mariamne" de 1725, Voltaire fut
pris dans la serie d'evenements qui devaient l'amener a quitter la
France pour aller habiter en Angleterre. Herode et Mariamne est la
derniere grande oeuvre de cette premiere periode de celebrite qui,
dans la vie de Voltaire, preceda la chute et l'exil de 1726.
This volume contains further full critical editions of some of
Voltaire's many and varied writings of 1772. When Voltaire hears
that Gustav III has assumed power in Sweden after a coup d'etat, he
welcomes a new member to the club of enlightened rulers with the
poem "Au roi de Suede, Gustave III". He returns to legal
considerations, this time in their relation to religious
toleration, in the "Reflexions philosophiques sur le proces de
mademoiselle Camp", and the abuse of ecclesiastical privilege is
attacked in "La Voix du cure sur le proces des serfs du Mont-Jura".
The theme of religious intolerance surfaces again in his treatment
of the Crusades in "Quelques petites hardiesses de Mr. Clair, a
l'occasion d'un panegyrique de Saint Louis". He also publishes a
treatise of sceptical deism, oddly entitled "Il faut prendre un
parti ou le principe d'action". Voltaire continued to write poetry
in a range of styles and genres: two verse satires, "Les Systemes"
and "Les Cabales", a slighter work, "Jean qui pleure et qui rit",
and towards the end of the year, one of his most important poems,
the "Epitre a Horace", which shows him comparing notes with Horace
as to how each of them will be treated by posterity: 'J'ai vecu
plus que toi; mes vers dureront moins.'
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.
This volume brings together Voltaire's writings from 1750-1752,
penned before his break with Frederick the Great marked the end of
his stay in Berlin. Ranging from philosophical poetry to military
strategy and satire, these texts and commentaries reveal the full
extent of Voltaire's intellectual interests. They also highlight
his place within an Enlightenment network of (often temporary)
allies, such as Frederick the Great, and sworn enemies, notably La
Beaumelle and Maupertuis.
In 1778, the year of his death, Voltaire annotated the edition of
the 'Eloge et Pensees de Pascal' published by Condorcet two years
earlier. The 'Pensees', a masterpiece abandoned by Pascal himself,
provided both its editors of the eighteenth century with the
starting-point for a series of reflections on the great questions
of life, death, faith and morality. The present edition reproduces
Pascal's text accompanied by Condorcet's notes and Voltaire's
comments on those notes. The whole constitutes a kind of
conversation of three voices that illustrates the many points of
divergence (and more rarely of convergence) between the trio of
thinkers.
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.
His central preoccupation was with his theatrical 'duel' with the
elder Crebillon, and his response to Crebillon's challenge, the
composition and staging of "Rome sauvee" and "Oreste" are described
in detail in this volume, together with his "Dissertation" on the
staging, ancient and modern, of the tragedy of Electra.
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.
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.
Ce volume comprend plusieurs dialogues et autres textes courts que
Voltaire ecrivit en 1750 et 1751, lors de ses derniers mois en
France avant son depart pour la cour de l'empereur Frederic et
pendant sa premiere annee a Berlin. Dialogues, reflexions
philosophiques, ecrits historiques, poesies: Voltaire ne cesse de
deployer, dans tous les genres et toutes les formes, le regard
critique aiguise et l'humour mordant qui sont sa marque de
fabrique, et qui ont tant seduit Frederic.
'La methode des dictionnaires [...] est d'une utilite qu'on ne peut
contester' ecrit Voltaire dans les "Questions sur l'Encyclopedie".
Mais s'il se plie a l'ordre alphabetique dans ce compendium de sa
pensee, il n'obeit pas aux autres regles du genre, melant prose et
vers, contes et dialogues. Les Questions sur l'Encyclopedie ne se
limitent pas a interpeller l'Encyclopedie, loin s'en faut: chacune
de ses lectures semble inspirer a Voltaire un nouvel article sur
des themes aussi varies que l'histoire, la science, la politique,
la religion et le droit. Collaborateurs: Francois Bessire,
Marie-Helene Cotoni, Nicholas Cronk, Olivier Ferret, Graham
Gargett, Paul Gibbard, Russell Goulbourne, Laurence Mace,
Christiane Mervaud, Michel Mervaud, Francois Moureau, Christophe
Paillard, John Renwick, Maria Susana Seguin, Gerhardt Stenger, Marc
Waddicor.
The texts in this volume date from 1769 with one unusual memoire
from 1770. At the age of 75, Voltaire was still extremely active,
developing and deepening familiar themes in his writings. After an
epistolary dispute with the bishop of Annecy, we present five more
works in his ongoing battle against the infame, concentrating on
the threat to society produced by religious dogma and intolerance,
and on abuses of ecclesiastical power. The volume ends with a
contribution by the patriarch to Choiseul's plan to create a port
on Lake Geneva that would be a haven for those suffering
persecution in Geneva for demanding more civil rights. The memoire
is accompanied by maps annotated by Voltaire.
L'Essai sur les moeurs est une oeuvre complexe, aux contours
mouvants. Comme le demontre l'ensemble de textes disparates reunis
dans ce volume, Voltaire revient sans cesse a l'Essai, et
l'evolution de l'oeuvre n'est aucunement lineaire. Une serie de
complements a notre texte de base (l'edition dite 'encadree' de
1775) est donc presentee ici: trois textes parus dans l'edition
encadree en guise de supplements; un premier Plan de l'oeuvre, qui
date de 1745; des articles de journaux et des lettres qui
s'inscrivent dans le cadre du debat autour de l'edition non
autorisee de l'Abrege, parue en 1753; 'Le Chapitre des arts',
projet d'une section de l'Essai restee a l'etat d'esquisse, dont la
toute premiere edition critique est presentee ici; et des textes
parus apres 1760 dans lesquels Voltaire repond a des critiques de
l'oeuvre. Enfin, une description de l'index (par Simon Bigex) qui
accompagne l'edition encadree de 1775; et les notes et remarques
sur l'Essai redigees par Wagniere apres la mort de Voltaire
completent ce recueil de textes annexes. Dans l'ensemble ces textes
ajoutent a la toile de fond du developpement de l'Essai et de sa
presentation. Ce volume se termine par une edition des Fragments
sur l'histoire generale (1773) ou Voltaire privilegie les aspects
de l'Essai qui s'etaient averes les plus controverses. Voltaire,
combatif, rassure son public qu'il n'avait en rien renie les
elements majeurs de sa philosophie de l'histoire.
In mid-July 1765, Voltaire produced a twenty-page pamphlet entitled
"Questions sur les miracles a M. le professeur Cla*** par un
proposant", hoping at best for a reply from the said pastor, little
thinking that it would lead to the publication eleven months later,
in May 1766, of a 232-page volume entitled "Collection des lettres
sur les miracles", composed of various short writings from the
period. Voltaire's series of twenty imaginary letters might at
first glance be seen as one chronological sequence, as superficial
as the fickle and fleeting question they address. But the
"Collection" is at the same time an attack on Christianity; an
attack on John Turberville Needham, a new anti-philosophical
adversary for Voltaire; and a political wrangle which questions the
relationship between church authorities and civil government,
challenged by the situation in Switzerland at the time.
1763-1764 shows a relentlessly satirical Voltaire whether he is
goading the Le Franc de Pompignan brothers ("Writings on
Jean-Jacques Le Franc de Pompignan", "Instruction pastorale de
l'humble eveque d'Aletopolis", and "Letters from a quaker"), or
mocking Omer de Fleury for his stance on inoculation ("Omer de
Fleury etant entre, ont dit"). In "Voltaire and the tithes of
Ferney", there is further evidence of his continued involvement
with local and national politics on the subject of taxes, while
simultaneously penning one of his early essays in biblical
criticism, his "Catechisme de l'honnete homme".
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