Book excerpt: This biography of the great French philosopher and writer Voltaire offers a thorough and engaging account of his life and work. From his early years as a protégé of powerful aristocrats to his later advocacy for civil liberties and his prolific literary output, Voltaire's story is one of intellectual courage and artistic creativity. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and other archival records, this book provides a deeper understanding of one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.