Voltaire

1949 · rif. 148560 — New York: Hermitage House 1949. Hermitage House limited edition of Voltaire’s satirical masterpiece. Octavo bound in full modern morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe / Zaehnsdorf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands gilt ruling to the front and rear panels all edges gilt gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles marbled endpapers with black and white illustrations. One of 1500 numbered copies this is number 500. In fine condition. Illustrated by Sydney Joseph. One of the most influential thinkers of the French Enlightenment François-Marie Arouet know by the nom de plum Voltaire was a resourceful and prolific writer. His works touched nearly every literary form including plays poems novels theoretical essays and scientific treatises. A forthright and candid advocate of civil liberties he frequently criticized the institutions of religious dogma and classism prevalent in 18th century France often doing so through satire to avoid censorship and imprisonment. Candide has ranked as one of the world's great satires since its first publication in 1759. It concerns the adventures of the youthful Candide who in the course of his travels in Europe and South America saw and suffered such misfortune that it was difficult for him to believe this was "the best of all possible worlds." Indeed it seemed to be quite the opposite. In brilliantly skewering such naïveté Voltaire mercilessly exposes and satirizes romance science philosophy religion and government — the ideas and forces that permeate and control the lives of men. Hermitage House unknown