Books

First edition of Voltaire's collection of 73 short philosophical essays, renowned for their stylistic brilliance. Devised and begun in Potsdam in 1752, during Voltaire's ill-fated stay at the court of Frederick the Great, the essays were first published in 1764 and form his largest philosophical work. The Dictionnaire "consists largely of attacks on religious dogma; at the same time it shows the author's abhorrence of falsehood, obscurity, and oppression, and is written with simplicity and lucidity coupled with lively malice and sarcasm. It was at once ordered to be burnt at Geneva, and was subsequently (1765) condemned by the parlement and by Rome" (Harvey & Heseltine, p. 209). Octavo (193 x 116 mm). Contemporary mottled sheep, rebacked and recornered with the original spine laid down, red morocco spine label, red edges. Bound without the half-title but with the second contents table (S8) present (lacking in some copies). Ownership signature of one William Lee to title page. Spine label missing, light damp stains to fore edges of a few leaves, occasional light spotting to contents. A very good copy. Bengesco 1400. Paul Harvey and J. E. Heseltine, The Oxford Companion to French Literature, 1959.