Voltaire

Born François-Marie Arouet in Paris in 1694, he became known to the world as Voltaire. He was a playwright, poet, historian, essayist, and philosopher whose lively style helped bring big ideas to a wide audience.

His life was marked by controversy as well as success. He spent time in the Bastille, lived in exile in England, and later settled for long periods near Geneva and at Ferney. Across his many books, pamphlets, and letters, he argued for religious toleration, freedom of thought, and a more humane society.

Voltaire is often remembered as one of the defining figures of the Enlightenment. His satire, especially Candide (1759), still feels brisk and modern, and his writing helped shape lasting debates about reason, justice, and civil liberty.