French Philosopher François-Marie Arouet, better known by his immortal pen name, Voltaire, is most famously known for his surgical wit and provocative ideas on religion, liberty, and ethics. Voltaire wrote many influential works ranging from plays, poems, essays and novels including Oedipus, “Letters concerning the English Nation” and Candide. His controversial writings saw him both celebrated and scorned throughout European courts, and later helped cement his reputation as one of the key figures of the Enlightenment era. Although Voltaire’s writings are not contemporary, His influence has managed to permeate academics through several of his works and works were written about him.
Voltaire was born on November 21, 1694, in Paris France and
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After fleeing to the French countryside to live with his mistress, and then banishment from Prussia by King Fredrick the Great, he finally settled in Ferney France near the Swiss border (Pomeau). There he wrote his most well know piece Candide. Published in 1759, Candide is a satirical novel that follows the story of an innocent young man named Candide and his journey of slow and painful disillusionment as he experiences and witnesses the cruel hardships of the world. Throughout the story, Voltaire ridicules Catholic dogma, French Institutions and famous philosophers, most evidently Gottfried Leibniz and his optimism. Although the story was censored after its’ initial publication, Candide has managed to become Voltaire's most popular work and is still widely read today. Candide is recognized as “Voltaire's magnum opus” (Roberts).
Throughout his lifetime, Voltaire has written many great works. Voltaire has been both praised and criticized by society and the government for his writings. Voltaire established himself as a renowned writer during his time after the success of Oedipus. He furthered developed his fame through works like “letters concerning the English nation” and Candide. Voltaire works are timeless and classic, he has managed to maintain his fame and influence up to the present