Voltaire and the French Enlightenment


Read by Pamela Nagami

(4.7 stars; 17 reviews)

In this Little Blue Book Number 512, Will Durant describes François-Marie Arouet, the writer, historian, and philosopher known as Voltaire (1694-1778) as "unprepossessing, ugly, vain, flippant, unscrupulous, even at times dishonest" and "tirelessly kind, considerate, ...as sedulous in helping friends as in crushing enemies." "My trade is to say what I think," wrote Voltaire, and he did so in ninety-nine "sparkling and fruitful" volumes. He advocated for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and for the separation of church and state. In 1791, when his ashes were carried through Paris to be re-entombed in the Panthéon, 100,000 men and women joined the procession, while 600,000 flanked the streets. Written on his funeral car were the words: "He gave the human mind a great impetus; he prepared us for freedom." (Pamela Nagami, M.D.) (2 hr 17 min)

Chapters

Ch. 1: Paris: 'Oedipe' 20:05 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 2: London: The 'Letters on the English' 5:35 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 3: Cirey: The Romances 15:55 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 4: Potsdam and Frederick 12:21 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 5: Les Délices: 'The Essay on Morals' 8:18 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 6: Ferney: 'Candide' 17:34 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 7: The 'Encyclopedia' and the 'Philosophic Dictionary' 12:44 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 8: 'Écrasez l'Infame' 21:50 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 9: Voltaire and Rousseau 15:44 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 10: Dénouement 7:37 Read by Pamela Nagami

Reviews

Voltaire


(5 stars)

Wow, what a little remarkable book! I am now straight to "Candide", and the great courses series "Voltaire and the triumph of the enlightenment". My desire to learn more about Voltaire is irresistible. Thanks to Dr Nagami for another winner!

thanks you


(5 stars)

good reading. appreciate the effort