Voltaire was a French writer and philosopher. He was an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church and was exiled from France for his beliefs. Voltaire was born in Paris, France, on November 21, 1694. He was raised by an uncle after his father abandoned him at birth and his mother died when he was 10 years old.
Writer’s real name was Francois Marie Arouet. His family came from the minor nobility and they were not wealthy enough to send him to college. However, he did receive a good education at a Jesuit boarding school and then worked as a secretary to the French ambassador in London during 1715-1716. After returning to Paris in 1716, Voltaire began writing satirical plays based on the popular theater that were similar to those written by Molière.
Francois made many enemies because of his writings against religion and the monarchy, including King Louis XV himself who banished him from France in 1726 for criticizing religious institutions as well as Louis’ mistress Madame Pompadour who had Voltaire imprisoned for eleven months at the Bastille prison in Paris for insulting her in one of his plays.
Voltaire’s most notable work is “Candide,” which he published in 1759. The story tells of a young man named Candide who goes on a journey through Europe to find happiness after being expelled from his home. He encounters many different characters along the way, each one teaching him a lesson about life. Candide finally realizes that true happiness cannot be found in any material possession or circumstance, but only through love and friendship.
