Voltaire

Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), was a towering figure in European literature and Enlightenment thinking. A prolific writer, Voltaire produced works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works, writing more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets. He is best known for his wit, his criticism of Christianity—especially the Roman Catholic Church—as well as his advocacy of freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and civil liberties. Voltaire was a versatile and an indefatigable writer. His most well-known works include the satirical novella "Candide" (1759), which is often considered one of the greatest works of Western literature for its satirical wit and comment on the philosophical optimism of the time, which he strongly opposed. A vocal advocate of social reform despite strict censorship laws and harsh penalties for those who broke them, Voltaire's sharp satire frequently led him into trouble with the authorities. He spent time in exile, including a significant period in England, where he was influenced by the works of the empiricists and liberal thinkers such as John Locke. This period of exile was crucial in shaping his thoughts on civil liberties and helped him produce "Letters Concerning the English Nation" (1733), a pioneering work praising the freedoms he witnessed in Britain. He often used his works to criticize intolerance, religious dogma, and the French institutions of his day. Throughout his long career, Voltaire engaged in an enormous amount of correspondence with influential figures throughout Europe. His legacy rests not only on his writings but also on his embodiment of the Enlightenment spirit of rational inquiry, skepticism, and humanitarian concern. Voltaire's ideas and literary achievements have continued to inspire a wide range of thinkers, writers, and activists for centuries since his death.