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zmb's review
4.0
A charmingly written account of a life so full I'm sure this book could have been many times longer. Its a bit heavy on facts and a bit light on analysis, but there are so many facts to go around and the analysis that is there is solid. And I do enjoy the style. And, of course, reading about the man who, more than anyone else, embodies the Enlightenment in all its progress, contradictions, and fundamental humanity.
albatrossonhalfpointe's review
4.0
I'm sad to say that I haven't ready very much Voltaire. Candide as part of a French Lit class during my first degree is pretty much it, I think. And yet, I've always been intrigued by him, and everything I'd ever heard about him made him seem quite appealing. Given my feelings on free speech, religious tolerance, and, frankly, the general principle of "An it harm none, do as ye will," my admiration for this man should perhaps not come as a big surprise.
Pearson's biography of him read pretty well, and had enough of a bibliography to come across as well researched, so I'll assume that it was. I learned lots of things about Voltaire, not the least of which is that I really really should read some more of his work.
I also learned, to my chagrin, that the statement so frequently attributed to him: "Though I may disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it," was never in fact said by him. It is instead someone else's paraphrase of his general attitude as expressed in defence of someone else's banned work. Nonetheless, even if he didn't say it explicitly like that, that attitude was certainly very present throughout his life, and remains a reason to admire him.
I also found his views on religion very appealing. I struggle with faith. I don't really have it, but I think it must be nice to have it, and there's definitely a part of me that envies those who do. But even if I ever do come around to believing in one or more deities, I don't think I'll ever likely get behind organized religion, and that's where Voltaire and I can agree. Frequently touted as one of the most famous atheists, he was in fact nothing of the sort. He was an extremely devout and fervent deist; he simply had no use whatsoever for the hypocrisies of the Church:
Many quotations in this book appealed to me, but this one particularly resonated, especially in light of the current political climate, which I find intensely distressing. It's a somewhat more elegant way of saying something else I read once: Sitting in a church doesn't make me a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes me a car.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book, and I really must go find Les lettres philosophiques or something, and read some more Voltaire. You should too.
Pearson's biography of him read pretty well, and had enough of a bibliography to come across as well researched, so I'll assume that it was. I learned lots of things about Voltaire, not the least of which is that I really really should read some more of his work.
I also learned, to my chagrin, that the statement so frequently attributed to him: "Though I may disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it," was never in fact said by him. It is instead someone else's paraphrase of his general attitude as expressed in defence of someone else's banned work. Nonetheless, even if he didn't say it explicitly like that, that attitude was certainly very present throughout his life, and remains a reason to admire him.
I also found his views on religion very appealing. I struggle with faith. I don't really have it, but I think it must be nice to have it, and there's definitely a part of me that envies those who do. But even if I ever do come around to believing in one or more deities, I don't think I'll ever likely get behind organized religion, and that's where Voltaire and I can agree. Frequently touted as one of the most famous atheists, he was in fact nothing of the sort. He was an extremely devout and fervent deist; he simply had no use whatsoever for the hypocrisies of the Church:
A barbarian's religion consists in offering up the blood of his enemies to his gods. A poorly educated Christian is scarcely more righteous. Observing a few pointless customs while failing to carry out his real duties as a human being; saying prayers but not renouncing his vices; fasting while simultaneously hating, plotting, and persecuting: that is his religion. Whereas the religion of a true Christian is to regard all men as his brothers, to do well by them and to forgive them their evil. (133, from the preface to Alzire)
Many quotations in this book appealed to me, but this one particularly resonated, especially in light of the current political climate, which I find intensely distressing. It's a somewhat more elegant way of saying something else I read once: Sitting in a church doesn't make me a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes me a car.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book, and I really must go find Les lettres philosophiques or something, and read some more Voltaire. You should too.
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