Voltaire and the Triumph of the Enlightenment

By: Alan Charles Kors, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Alan Charles Kors

Discover why intellectuals and historians alike consider Voltaire to be one of the most intriguing, influential, and elusive thinkers of the modern world. Focusing on the deepest, most enduring aspects of Voltaire's work and thought, but never losing sight of the colorful, fascinating man himself, these 12 lectures sketch for you a vibrant, thought-provoking vision of Voltaire as "the father of the Enlightenment" and one of the great literary personalities of all time.

You'll follow this Enlightenment thinker's 84 astoundingly productive years and go inside not only his masterpiece, Candide, but the hundreds of other works in almost all the literary, philosophical, and polemical genres current in his day, and the more than 20,000 letters this prolific writer and thinker left behind.

What was Voltaire's world like? Who and what influenced him? What questions and dilemmas did he ponder? What evils did he struggle against? What reforms did he advocate? What made him laugh and cry, or write a book like Candide, which is at once so funny and so sad? And what is his place in the history of the Western mind? The answers to these and other questions can be found right here in this illuminating lecture series. If you're unfamiliar with Voltaire and his works, prepare to meet one of Western literature's defining writers. And if you already have some familiarity with the man, prepare to discover even more insights into why he still matters after all these years.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

Prolific Critic, Philosopher, Writer

Very informative audiobook lecture series covering the great Voltaire. Learned much about his life and times and of the respect he earned even in his lifetime.

if we could all think this clearly

this is my first introduction to Voltaire and the enlightenment. I found it very entertaining and thought-provoking, I recommend anybody interested in the French Revolution or the American Revolution listen to this course. as it illustrates the thought processes of the 18th century. this is a fascinating treatise on philosophy and the thoughts of man which I am new to. I just finished the course on the French Revolution from the Great Courses. I plan on now listening to Candide and immersing myself in this great thinkers greatest play. the narration is entertaining and enlightening at the same time I listen to this course in the space of one day I found it so interesting.

Excellent content Voltaire is very important.

This Proffesor has a very strange naselly speech and accent it was distracting but he knew his stuff.

Interesting story

I enjoyed learning about Voltaire the person and the the history of the times he lived in. It was very complete.

Voltaire

I loved this lecture series. Professor Kors clearly knows the subject and is a great teacher and orator. This is education and philosophy at its best.