Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 19

[cahn]

Yuletide nominations:

18th Century CE Federician RPF
Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria
Voltaire
Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Ernst Ahasverus von Lehndorff
Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758)
Anna Amalie von Preußen | Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723-1787)
Catherine II of Russia
Hans Hermann von Katte
Peter Karl Christoph von Keith
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf
August Wilhelm von Preußen | Augustus William of Prussia (1722-1758)

Circle of Voltaire RPF
Emilie du Chatelet
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (Madame de Pompadour)
John Hervey (1696-1743)
Marie Louise Mignot Denis
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu (1696-1788)
Francesco Algarotti

Comments

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[cahn]

OK, this is really fascinating! I thought Boswell's description of Voltaire's religious beliefs was very interesting (I guess I'd always thought he was an atheist) and rather in-character, really.

VOLTAIRE: Yes. You have a noble desire to be King of Europe. You say, 'I wish it, and I ask your protection in continuing to wish it.' But it is not probable.

Like felis says, this is the best line :D

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[selenak]

Re: Voltaire's beliefs - a deist, is what biographers generally go with, meaning he believed in the existence of a Supreme Being but did not adher to any of the professed faiths, and, as gets debated in this exchange with Boswell, did not believe in immortality of the soul.

Mind you, given that Voltaire was never lacking visitors and that Boswell wasn't anyone of social significance or a cause like the Calas affair to justify his visit - simply a young Scotsman on the Grand Tour - it's all the more remarkable he managed two audiences and an overnight stay. And I regret once more he was foiled by Fritz, because with Boswell's excellent memory and note taking, we could have gotten this kind of detailed description there. :)

Re: Meeting Voltaire: as documented by James Boswell

[mildred_of_midgard]

I thought Boswell's description of Voltaire's religious beliefs was very interesting (I guess I'd always thought he was an atheist)

Yep, Voltaire, like Fritz, was a Deist. I have a biography of Diderot, who was a straight-up atheist, coming up next on my reading list which I don't have time for because salon is so busy omg!