About the Author

Voltaire (1694 - 1778) became known in Paris for his satires and odes, and his frist tragedy Oedipe was performed with great success. He was imprisoned in the Bastille twice in his life and after the second time spent time in England (1726 - 29). He returned to France, but his political opinions meant he was never really safe there and he eventually settled in Geneva, where he remained until near the end of his life and wrote his most famous works, including Candide. Theodore Beterman is the founder and director of the Institut et Musee Voltaire, and author of the standard biography on Voltaire.