Voltaire in Exile

By Ian Davidson

Book Overview

Forced into exile to Geneva in 1753 by Louis XV, Voltaire carved out a new world in isolation, becoming a successful entrepreneur and writing his masterpiece Candide. Davidson recreates this period in the life of one of the giants of the Enlightenment.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802117910
• ISBN13: 9780802117915
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Voltaire Exalted

Having been reminded of Voltaire from reading recent works on James Boswell and Benjamin Franklin, I found this very admirable book by Ian Davidson to be the remedy to my general ignorance about this great figure from the past. It is not the source to learn about Voltaire's early days or as the noted author of plays. However, from this book one can get a good feel for why Voltaire was, and remains, so important as the symbol of a thinking and witty man, living in an age often marked by severe religious, judicial, and political intolerance. He led a long, full life while often acting generously to improve the troubled lot of real humans.