HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Story Of Civilization, Vol IX: Age Of…
Loading...

Story Of Civilization, Vol IX: Age Of Voltaire (original 1965; edition 1980)

by Will Durant

Series: The Story of Civilization (Volume 9)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,431412,794 (4.14)3
The Age of Voltaire, the ninth volume of The Story of Civilization, is an in-depth examination of France and England in the first half of the eighteenth century. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the English ideas that inspired the Enlightenment in France-skepticism, scientific experiment, constitutional government, "natural rights," and individual liberty; the salons of Paris, where the wits and thinkers of all Europe gathered to exchange ideas; the philosophes-intellectuals, playwrights, and poets who consulted and consorted with kings and queens; Voltaire himself-the incarnation of the Enlightenment and a devotee of reason who still defended religious faith; Mme. Pompadour, patron of the philosophes, who seduced King Louis XV and through him influenced French policy; the Augustan Age in English literature-Alexander Pope's poetry, Jonathan Swift's satires, and the novels of Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding; and the growing parasitism of the aristocracy and rising power of the commercial class.… (more)
Member:tobiejonzarelli
Title:Story Of Civilization, Vol IX: Age Of Voltaire
Authors:Will Durant
Info:Simon & Schuster (1980), Hardcover
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:non-fiction, history

Work Information

The Age of Voltaire by Will Durant (Author) (1965)

None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 3 mentions

Showing 4 of 4
Amazing how much political, anti-cleric, philosophic, medical, and scientific development occurred in the 1700s. And mentions in passing enclosure in Britain -- first half of the eighteenth century (maybe staring in the end of the 1600s. ( )
  Castinet | Dec 11, 2022 |
Aside from the cursory first volume of "The Story of Civilization" entitled "Our Oriental Heritage" this series has been the backbone of my reading in the history of the Mediterranean basin, and of Europe. The prose is very good, and the information very well organised, with the short biographical sketches being quite informative. There are a reasonable number of illustrations, and the end-paper maps usually good enough. Not a quick read, but a very high quality answer to those who find cultural history "boring." As the Durants had already entitled the previous Volume "The Age of Louis XIV", a title they shared with one of Voltaire's works, they felt it just to use this title. And, the volume is an account of a period roughly coeval with bulk of the eminent French man of letter's life. Indeed his skeptical but well researched personal attitude is the tone of European intellectual life portrayed here..... ( )
  DinadansFriend | Jun 24, 2020 |
Mr. Durant writes so plainly. One doesn't have to struggle to understand what his prose is meaning to convey. Nor does one have to struggle against the fear of falling asleep by the numbing academic language of a typical erudite book on this period. ( )
  Huba.Library | Dec 1, 2022 |
A history of Western European civilization 1715-1756 with special emphasis on the conflict between religion and philosophy. in-depth examination of France and England in the first half of the eighteenth century will introduce you to: The English ideas that inspired the Enlightenment in France-skepticism, scientific experiment, constitutional government, "natural rights," and individual liberty the Salons of Paris, where the wits and thinkers of all... ( )
This review has been flagged by multiple users as abuse of the terms of service and is no longer displayed (show).
  Tutter | Feb 20, 2015 |
Showing 4 of 4
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Durant, WillAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Durant, ArielAuthormain authorall editionsconfirmed
Adams, AlexanderNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

The Age of Voltaire, the ninth volume of The Story of Civilization, is an in-depth examination of France and England in the first half of the eighteenth century. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the English ideas that inspired the Enlightenment in France-skepticism, scientific experiment, constitutional government, "natural rights," and individual liberty; the salons of Paris, where the wits and thinkers of all Europe gathered to exchange ideas; the philosophes-intellectuals, playwrights, and poets who consulted and consorted with kings and queens; Voltaire himself-the incarnation of the Enlightenment and a devotee of reason who still defended religious faith; Mme. Pompadour, patron of the philosophes, who seduced King Louis XV and through him influenced French policy; the Augustan Age in English literature-Alexander Pope's poetry, Jonathan Swift's satires, and the novels of Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding; and the growing parasitism of the aristocracy and rising power of the commercial class.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.14)
0.5
1
1.5
2 1
2.5
3 16
3.5
4 20
4.5 5
5 25

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,240,817 books! | Top bar: Always visible