Summary
This book collects the correspondence between Catherine II of Russia and Voltaire, revealing how Voltaire was perceived in England versus France. In England, Voltaire was regarded as a malignant, subversive spirit—a mocker of religion and morality, personified as Sophistry in Sir Joshua Reynolds’ allegorical portrait of Dr. Beattie. Samuel Johnson considered him so bad that he could not settle “the proportion of iniquity” between Voltaire and Rousseau. The prejudice extended to all his works, few of which were translated into English. In France, however, Voltaire was celebrated as the champion of freedom of thought, a liberator against the superstition, fanaticism, and tyranny of the French monarchy under Louis XIV. The correspondence shows Catherine engaging with this French view of Voltaire as a heroic figure, while the English passages document the stark contrast in his reputation.
Key concepts
- Personification of Sophistry — Sir Joshua Reynolds’ allegorical portrait of Dr. Beattie depicted Voltaire as the embodiment of deceptive reasoning and irreligion.
- Proportion of iniquity — Samuel Johnson’s phrase for the difficulty of comparing the moral badness of Voltaire and Rousseau.
- Champion of freedom of thought — The French view of Voltaire as the liberator of intellectual inquiry from the constraints of the French monarchy and clergy.
- Superstition, fanaticism, and tyranny — The three evils Voltaire contended against, which did not exist in England according to the author.
- Literary Mephistopheles — The English characterization of Voltaire as a fleering, shallow scoffer and a devilish figure.
From the book
Title: Correspondence with Voltaire by Catherine II of Russia← Voltaire ( 1877 ) by Edward Bruce Hamley , edited by Margaret Oliphant Oliphant HIS BOYHOOD → related portals : Biography , French literature Edward Bruce Hamley 4222422 Voltaire 1877 Margaret Oliphant Oliphant Foreign Classics for English Readers EDITED BY MRS OLIPHANT PROSPECTUS. T he cordial reception given by the public to the Series of "Ancient Classics for English Readers" has confirmed the intention of the Publishers to carry out a kindred Series, which it is believed will not be less useful or less welcome, and in which an attempt will be made to introduce the great writers of Europe in a similar manner to the many readers who probably have a perfect acquaintance with their names, without much knowledge of their…
Popular questions readers ask
- The text posits that understanding a nation's "highest life" and "manners of thinking" requires knowing its great writers. How would you explain this assertion to someone who believes travel alone suffices for cultural understanding, using specific examples from the text to elaborate on the *nature* of the knowledge gained?
- The editors distinguish between Ancient and Continental Classics, stating the latter are "nearer to us in time, and less separated in sentiment." How might this perceived proximity influence the *kind* of "enlarging the mind" and "dispersing prejudices" that the series aims to achieve for English readers, compared to the Ancient Classics series?
- The prospectus identifies a key challenge: the absence of an "educated class supremely devoted to the study of Continental Classics." How does the series' approach—targeting readers who find foreign languages difficult and translations "thankless"—attempt to overcome this obstacle, and what are the potential implications for the *depth* of understanding it can foster?
- Choose one author mentioned (e.g., Voltaire, Dante, Cervantes) and explain, as if to a peer, *how* their literary contributions specifically illuminate the "national mind and its capabilities" or "mental characteristics of the nation" in a way that simply knowing *about* the country would not.
- Beyond simply introducing names and works, what underlying belief about the role of literature in fostering international understanding or shaping collective identity is implicitly expressed by the editors' endeavor to connect English readers with the "great nations who are our neighbours"?