Primary sourceBook1919
Voltaire in His Letters
Voltaire · 1919
A 1919 English translation selecting Voltaire's own letters, showing his private wit and opinions.
This selection of Voltaire's own letters, translated into English, shows his private thoughts and personality.
PDF · 338 pagesAbout this source
What it is
This book, translated and edited by S. G. Tallentyre, collects a selection of Voltaire's correspondence in English translation. It was published in 1919 by G. P. Putnam's Sons and is held as a scanned volume by the Internet Archive.
Why it matters
The editor argues it is better to read a person's own writing than what others say about them. The letters reveal Voltaire's sharp humour and personal opinions, giving students a more direct sense of his character than biographies alone.
Look closer
- Why might reading someone's letters give a different impression than reading a biography about them?
- What choices did the translator and editor make in selecting which letters to include?
- How might translation change the tone or meaning of Voltaire's original French words?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Voltaire on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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