Ian Davidson (1) (1935–)

Having ordered the book in preparation to my visit to Voltaire-Ferney, the not so best of all worlds in the form of an Icelandic volcano prevented it from arriving in time. Freshly charged with memories of the place, it was a wonderful read. Normally, one would say that a biography devoted to the twilight years of a person would be boring. With Voltaire, the opposite is true. Most of what we remember him for, happened when he was an old man (Candide, social advocacy of justice). Voltaire is show more an excellent subject for a biographer because he was an incessant, witty and candid letter writer. An egomaniac and hypochondriac, today, he would certainly have his own reality TV show.

Voltaire was filthy rich, a private banker to the lesser princes of Germany. He built his dream palace, including a private theater, demolished and reconstructed the parish church (including the grandiose inscription "Deo erexit VOLTAIRE"). While he showed elements of modernity and free spirit, he had a decidedly conservative and monarchical bent. He acquired a title and loved to be among princes and kings. His place in the Pantheon was due to both a misappropriation by and a misunderstanding of the French revolutionaries. While Voltaire sought justice, he never wanted equality. He was a member of the elite. He cared for his people in Ferney in a paternalistic way in setting up a profitable watchmaking industry (Voltaire was a gifted business and marketing man promoting and selling his watches abroad).

Voltaire's exile at Europe’s crossroads in Ferney, both in and out of France (as it was in Savoy), was time well spent. He would probably have wasted his time with distractions and died early in unhealthy Paris. Thus, in hindsight, the exile was a blessing to him and to us, for this great biography brings the man to life again. Highly recommended. show less

An eminently readable biography of a leading figure of the Enlightenment. Voltaire remains a controversial figure. Familiar though I was with the quantity of work Voltaire produced during his lifetime, the depth and variety of his correspondence was a surprise. This biography by using the letters by and to Voltaire along with comments by his contemporaries allows you to get closer to the man. This biography is not just for academics, it is informative and entertaining in equal measure.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a general understanding of the events and people in the French revolution. At about 250 pages the book does not delve too deeply into the details - but I think the author does a good job of describing the forces within French society at the time, and what led to most of the key events. I didn't really know too much about the revolution besides the broad strokes of what occurred. Now I have a clear understanding of the timelines and show more circumstances surrounding the revolution. The book is an easy and pretty quick read. For anyone looking for a "lighter" plunge into the French revolution this book, in my opinion, is a good choice. show less

If your interest is in les aventures amoureuses de M. François-Marie Arouet, then this may well be the book for you; and the author's self-proclaimed success at reading over 15,000 of his subject's letters should assure you a compendium of trivia. If, however, your interest is in Voltaire le philosophe, dramatist, prose-fiction writer, and otherwise man of letters, then it's going to be a disappointment. In fairness, though, Davidson does disclaim any intent at writing a "literary show more biography," so I suppose I sot what I paid for.

The one aspect I did find of interest was the discussion of Votaire's turn toward social/judicial reform late in his life. But for further interest in Voltaire, I'll turn to some of his original writings. show less