Voltaire

Who is Voltaire?

Voltaire was the pen name of François-Marie Arouet, born in Paris and one of the leading figures of the French Enlightenment. A prolific writer, he produced plays, poetry, histories, essays and thousands of letters, but he is best remembered for his satirical novella 'Candide' (1759), which mocks blind optimism, and for his fierce advocacy of civil liberties. He championed freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the separation of church and state, and repeatedly attacked intolerance, superstition and injustice, often clashing with the authorities and spending time in the Bastille and in exile in England. His witty, incisive style made him famous across Europe, and he corresponded with monarchs including Frederick the Great of Prussia. His campaigns to overturn wrongful convictions, such as the Calas affair, established him as a defender of justice. He died in Paris in 1778 and was later interred in the Panthéon.

Sources: Roger Pearson, 'Voltaire Almighty' (2005) · Voltaire, 'Candide' (1759)