The Essential Works of Voltaire (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Philosophical Writings, Novels, Historical Works, Poetry, Plays & LettersBy Voltaire
Length211h 52m
About this audiobook
The Essential Works of Voltaire gathers the defining writings of the Enlightenment's most incisive polemicist: philosophical tales, satirical fiction, letters, essays, and interventions against superstition, fanaticism, and political cruelty. Works such as Candide reveal his crystalline prose, ironic compression, and devastating comic timing, while his historical and philosophical writings place reason, tolerance, and empirical skepticism at the center of public life. The collection situates Voltaire within the cosmopolitan Republic of Letters, where wit became an instrument of intellectual warfare. Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet in 1694, was shaped by classical education, courtly ambition, exile, censorship, imprisonment, and the comparative freedoms he observed in England. His encounters with Newtonian science, Lockean empiricism, religious conflict, and judicial injustice sharpened his lifelong campaign against l'infâme—organized oppression masquerading as sacred authority. His works reflect both aristocratic polish and radical moral urgency. This volume is recommended for readers seeking not merely literary brilliance but the intellectual architecture of modern secular criticism. It offers an indispensable entry into Enlightenment thought and a bracing reminder that clarity, laughter, and moral courage can challenge entrenched power.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions.
- The Author Biography highlights personal milestones and literary influences that shape the entire body of writing.
- A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation.
- A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists.
- A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths.
- Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts.
- Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length211 hrs 52 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 22, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Essential Works of Voltaire (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Author Biography
4Historical Context
5Synopsis (Selection)
Show all chaptersShow less
6Novels:
7CANDIDE: The Optimist
8PART I. (pt. 1)
9PART I. (pt. 2)
10PART II.
11ZADIG: The Book of Faith (pt. 1)
12ZADIG: The Book of Faith (pt. 2)
13MICROMEGAS
14THE HURON: Pupil of Nature (pt. 1)
15THE HURON: Pupil of Nature (pt. 2)
16THE WHITE BULL: A Satirical Romance
17THE MAN OF FORTY CROWNS
18THE PRINCESS OF BABYLON (pt. 1)
19THE PRINCESS OF BABYLON (pt. 2)
20THE SAGE AND THE ATHEIST
21Stories:
22MEMNON THE PHILOSOPHER
23THE BLACK AND THE WHITE
24THE WORLD AS IT GOES
25ANDRÉ DES TOUCHES AT SIAM
26BABABEC
27JEANNOT AND COLIN
28THE TRAVELS OF SCARMENTADO
29A CONVERSATION WITH A CHINESE
30PLATO'S DREAM
31PLEASURE IN HAVING NO PLEASURE
32AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA
33THE GOOD BRAHMIN
34THE TWO COMFORTERS
35ANCIENT FAITH AND FABLE
36THE STUDY OF NATURE
37A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MARCUS AURELIUS AND A RECOLLET FRIAR
38DIALOGUE BETWEEN A BRAHMIN AND A JESUIT
39DIALOGUES BETWEEN LUCRETIUS AND POSIDONIUS
40DIALOGUE BETWEEN A CLIENT AND HIS LAWYER
41DIALOGUE BETWEEN MADAME DE MAINTENON AND MADEMOISELLE DE L’ENCLOS
42DIALOGUE BETWEEN A SAVAGE AND A BACHELOR OF ARTS
43Plays:
44MAHOMET
45ACT I.
46ACT II.
47ACT III.
48ACT IV.
49ACT V.
50MEROPE
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