I think he's drawn to the idea of an older guy who's going to be amazing and set the bar high for Fritz's education and adore him and they're going to agree on everything and it's going to be SO. MUCH. FUN.
Don't Forget: an older guy without that guy's s.o.; reading the few Émilie letters in conjunction while recalling the Voltaire ones reminded me thath they were really angling (and expecting) a double invitation there, until Fritz point blank writes he wants to see Voltaire and only Voltaire. Now, even Fritz the budding misogynist can't claim Émilie would be boring to meet, so clearly whatever fantasy he has of what Voltaire will be like in person, it comes with Voltaire being focused utterly and exclusively on him.
Incidentally, since the Algarotti dissertation has reminded me again: do you think a reason why Voltaire - as opposed to Maupertuis and Algarotti - does not get a permanent job offer in 1740, or, for that matter, 1743 - is that he might be willing to come for a visit without the Marquise, but would, were he to get an actual court position, undoubtedly insist she was to come as well? Because otherwise it's a bit odd that Fritz is not offering his favourite writer what he's offering all the other intellectuals. Unless he's playing hard to get? (In which case: totally works. Since Voltaire catches a massive case of Maupertuis jealousy. And maybe a bit of Algarotti jealousy besides.)
Or: Fritz wants to ditch Voltaire to Émilie for good for him, to prove his serious intentions, and is most annoyed this does not happen. I mean, if he's rolling out the Dido and Aeneas comparisons by 1743 already...
Set up for fanfic: true, almost an embarrasment of riches. Alas, my brain currently is still on crack fic mode. I’m posting the result in a separate reply.
Re: Toppings of all types, continued
Don't Forget: an older guy without that guy's s.o.; reading the few Émilie letters in conjunction while recalling the Voltaire ones reminded me thath they were really angling (and expecting) a double invitation there, until Fritz point blank writes he wants to see Voltaire and only Voltaire. Now, even Fritz the budding misogynist can't claim Émilie would be boring to meet, so clearly whatever fantasy he has of what Voltaire will be like in person, it comes with Voltaire being focused utterly and exclusively on him.
Incidentally, since the Algarotti dissertation has reminded me again: do you think a reason why Voltaire - as opposed to Maupertuis and Algarotti - does not get a permanent job offer in 1740, or, for that matter, 1743 - is that he might be willing to come for a visit without the Marquise, but would, were he to get an actual court position, undoubtedly insist she was to come as well? Because otherwise it's a bit odd that Fritz is not offering his favourite writer what he's offering all the other intellectuals. Unless he's playing hard to get? (In which case: totally works. Since Voltaire catches a massive case of Maupertuis jealousy. And maybe a bit of Algarotti jealousy besides.)
Or: Fritz wants to ditch Voltaire to Émilie for good for him, to prove his serious intentions, and is most annoyed this does not happen. I mean, if he's rolling out the Dido and Aeneas comparisons by 1743 already...
Set up for fanfic: true, almost an embarrasment of riches. Alas, my brain currently is still on crack fic mode. I’m posting the result in a separate reply.