Showing results by author "Voltaire" in All Categories

Candide is a relentless, brutal assault on government, society, religion, education, and, above all, optimism. Dr. Pangloss teaches his young students Candide and Cunegonde that everything in this world is for the best, a sentiment they cling to as the world steps in to teach them otherwise. The novel is brilliant, hilarious, blasphemous!

"Facile à lire" est une collection de titres qui vous entraîne à la découverte des grandes œuvres classiques de la littérature française. Cet outil pédagogique est destiné à accompagner les lycéens dans leurs études. Plus généralement, elle s'adresse à tous les amoureux de la littérature qui souhaitent revisiter ou découvrir de façon ludique nos grands classiques.

Wiglaf Droste stellt seinen sonoren Bariton in den Dienst eines seiner Lieblingsbücher: "Voltaires Candide ist, wenn es das gibt, die Bibel der Aufklärung...

Take a tour through nine of the finest minds of all time, with "900 Quotations from Modern Philosophy". With words of wisdom, reflections, and observations on everything from life and love to death and hatred, and everything in between, this is a superb book for those looking for inspiring and self-questioning thoughts to gain a new perspective on our existence. A superb read for fans of modern philosophy and those who simply want something fascinating to dip in and out of.

Beccaria's treatise On Crimes and Punishments, which condemns disproportionate and irrational penalties in general as well as torture and the death penalty, is said to mark the peak of Enlightenment in Milan. Its translations were widely read by statesmen and policy makers in Britain, America and France. This translation also features the anonymous commentary, attributed to Voltaire. - Summary by Carolin

Chef-d’œuvre du grand écrivain et philosophe Voltaire, Candide, ou l'Optimisme, publié en 1759, est un conte qui suit les aventures de Candide, un jeune homme naïf, élevé dans une vision du monde optimiste. Ce principe de l'optimisme, enseigné par son mentor Pangloss, est sans cesse mis à l'épreuve dans une série de catastrophes et de malheurs : guerres, tremblements de terre, naufrages, et trahisons, dont la guerre de Sept Ans et le séisme de 1755 à Lisbonne.

First published in 1752, "Micromegas" is one of Voltaire’s best-known works. It is a tale of mordant irony, and actually the original science-fiction short story. Arriving on Earth from the star Sirius, the gigantic explorer Micromegas discovers the people of Earth, so small compared to him that he first believes that no creature this size can hope to achieve any degree of intelligence; he will soon discover the ways and thoughts of these diminutive people, who clearly have an over-inflated idea of their own importance in the universe. Voltaire's extrapolations of sun-powered interstellar flight, alien civilizations, and the two moons of Mars, are designed to make us see ourselves in a new light and laugh at what we find.

The story follows the eponymous hero and his tutor Doctor Pangloss through a series of adventures and misfortunes, all the time doggedly attempting, against the odds, to adhere to the doctor's philosophy that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds".

Sur le point d'épouser la plus belle fille de Babylone, jouissant de tous les privilèges de la jeunesse et de la fortune, vertueux de surcroît, Zadig se demande s'il est possible de vivre heureux ici-bas. Sa fiancée ne tarde pas à la trahir, des fanatiques le traînent en justice, on le menace du bûcher, on le vend comme esclave en Egypte et c'est par miracle qu'il retrouve sa patrie et triomphe de la laideur et de la bassesse du monde.

La littérature française du XVIIIe siècle évolue selon deux orientations majeures : le mouvement des Lumières et ses remises en cause des fondamentaux de la société, et l'émergence d'une sensibilité qui donnera par la suite naissance au mouvement romantique. Cette collection de citations présente la pensée de six figures incontournables du XVIIIe siècle sous forme concise, accessible et pratique.

Pensées d'auteurs célèbres : Alfred de Musset, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, François Voltaire, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Lord Byron, Gustave Flaubert, et bien d'autres !

Conte philosophique considéré comme l'un des chefs-d'œuvre de Voltaire, "Candide" frappe par sa légèreté, et sa justesse. Le héros est un jeune homme crédule à qui son précepteur, Pangloss, inculque une théorie très simpliste sur l'optimisme. Les mésaventures du jeune héros mettent à mal cette doctrine. Cela permet à Voltaire de se moquer de toutes les théories métaphysiques qui ne résistent pas à l'épreuve des faits.

Voltaire was a French writer famous for his wit and irony. They were his tools for launching vitriolic attacks on the established Catholic church, the adversaries of freedom of religion and expression, and on separation of church and state. His prolific writing took almost every possible literary form: plays, novels, essays, but also poems, historical and scientific works.

Mysteries come in all sorts, and this collection of seven short stories reflects that, from hidden temples beneath the sea, to worlds discovered through a microscope. Murderers, ghosts and demons can also be found in this collection. The stories included are: "The Temple", "To Prove an Alibi", "The Diamond Lens", "The Adventure of the Red Circle", "An Episode in a Lodging House", "How Siva Spoke", and "The Nail."

Micromegas: A Philosophical History by Voltaire, in this illustrated edition, offers a satirical and philosophical journey through the cosmos. Originally written in 1752, this short story is a reflection of Voltaire's wit and Enlightenment ideals. The narrative follows the adventures of Micromegas, an extraterrestrial being from a distant star, as he travels through the universe. Micromegas encounters various civilizations, engaging in conversations that serve as a vehicle for Voltaire to critique human nature, society, and the limitations of knowledge.

Since its publication in 1759, Voltaires Candide has been a delightful satire that pokes fun at the idea that we live in the best of all possible worlds. Written in just three days, this timeless classic has continued to bring laughter and provoke thought for generations. Join us as we explore the enduring charm and wit of Voltaires masterpiece. - Summary by Philip Littell

Candide is a sharp, unflinching critique of government, society, religion, education, and, most notably, the philosophy of optimism. Under the guidance of Dr. Pangloss, Candide and Cunegonde are taught that everything in this world happens for the best—a belief that quickly unravels as life throws its harsh lessons their way. This novel is not only brilliant and hilarious but also blasphemous, with Voltaire cleverly maintaining the mystery of authorship.

Zadig, ou La Destinée, is a renowned novel penned by the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire in 1747. Set in ancient Babylonia, it follows the adventures of Zadig, a philosopher navigating a world rife with challenges that mirror the social and political issues of Voltaires time. While the narrative is not historically precise, it delves into profound philosophical themes, portraying human existence as governed by an uncontrollable destiny. The tale explores the concepts of religious and metaphysical orthodoxy, as Voltaire boldly critiques these ideas through the transformative journey ...

Beccaria's treatise On Crimes and Punishments, which condemns disproportionate and irrational penalties in general as well as torture and the death penalty, is said to mark the peak of Enlightenment in Milan. Its translations were widely read by statesmen and policy makers in Britain, America and France. This translation also features the anonymous commentary, attributed to Voltaire.

A obra reúne três poemas extraordinários do historiador, filósofo iluminista e poeta francês François-Marie Arouet, universalmente conhecido por seu pseudônimo: Voltaire. E mais: a poesia aqui selecionada teve a tradução de outro gênio: o poeta português Bocage. São estes os textos que o leitor encontrará neste volume: "O templo de amor", "Episódio de La Henriade" e "O combate de Ailly com o filho na batalha de Ivri".