Voltaire 101
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I tried asking for suggestions on how to start with Voltaire on /his/ but didn't have luck. Can you help me, /lit/? I'm tired of him being mentioned in, for example, realist French works, and not knowing shit about him.
Where should I start? What do you recommend reading?
Also translations recommendations are appreciated.
Aight here's the deal
Voltaire is public domain so you can use google to read most of his works. This is really helpful when you're bored and want to find the odd letter or essay to peruse.
Of his major works, Candide is the most major of his fiction (though Micromegas and Zadig are worth the reads) and besides that I would recommend his Dictionnaire Philosophique -- 120 mean, pointed essays from ya boi Voltaire.
There's plenty of biography on him -- there's a good one in the public domain by John Morley -- and it's always a blast to read about his times.
I would check into his correspondence with Rousseau and Frederick of Prussia as well, if I were you.
Enjoy it m8 I wish I could read Voltaire for the first time again
>>7614066
Nice answer, appreciated. Any insight on translations?
I'm looking for physical books but it's nice that he's public domain for the reason you mentioned.
>>7614075
I've read Candides from translators Frame and Cuffe, both were good enough. My Dictionnaire Philosophique was translated by a Besterman
the translations come less into play with his letters, which are not to be slept on
>>7614082
Thanks anon.
