Voltaire: A Very Short Introduction [Paperback]

ThisVery Short Introductionexamines Voltaire's (1694-1778) remarkable life and career. Exploring his most important writings, the impact his work had on our understanding of the European Enlightenment, and his status as a literary celebrity at the time, Nicholas Cronk considers his continued relevance in literature, politics, and philosophy.Voltaire (1694-1778), best remembered as the author ofCandide, is one of the central actors -- arguably the defining personality -- of the European Enlightenment. In thisVery Short Introduction, Nicholas Cronk explores Voltaire's remarkable career and demonstrates how his thinking is pivotal to our notion and understanding of the Enlightenment.In a fresh and modern examination of his writings, Cronk examines the nature of Voltaire's literary celebrity, demonstrating the extent to which his work was reactive and practical, and therefore made sense within the broader context of the debates to which he responded. The most famous living author in Europe in the 18th century, Cronk emphasizes Voltaire's skills of performance as a writer and his continued relevance today. He concludes by looking not only at Voltaire's impact in literature and philosophy, but also his influence on French political values and modern French politics.ABOUT THE SERIES:TheVery Short Introductionsseries from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.1. The Actor2. The Epicurean3. The Englishman4. The scientist5. The courtier6. The Swiss exile7. The patriarch8. The after-lifeFurther readingIndexNicholas Cronkis a Professor of French Literature in Oxford and Director of the Voltaire Foundation. For the last decade, he has been genlƒ‡