Voltaire

About this book

The work is a scholarly survey of Voltaire’s life and thought, compiled by John Morley. It opens with a detailed bibliographic note that distinguishes the 1826 Baudouin edition, spanning seventy‑five volumes, from the earlier, larger ninety‑seven‑volume set, and points readers to Quérard’s bibliography for a comparison. From there the author launches into a “Preliminary” that treats Voltaire as a cultural force comparable to Catholicism, Calvinism, and the Renaissance, arguing that his name alone marks a decisive movement in European intellectual history. The opening pages outline the structure of the book, listing chapters that will examine English influences, literature, his Berlin years, religion, history, and his later life at Ferney, each accompanied by exhaustive sub‑headings that promise a meticulous, almost encyclopedic treatment of the philosopher’s activities and ideas.

Morley writes in a formal, nineteenth‑century academic style, employing long, clause‑laden sentences and a tone of reverent analysis rather than narrative storytelling. The text is dense with references, dates, and comparative judgments, reflecting the period’s penchant for exhaustive scholarship. Readers who relish detailed intellectual histories, enjoy tracing the evolution of Enlightenment ideas, or appreciate a methodical, source‑driven approach to a major literary figure will find this volume rewarding.