A Propos Voltaire:
François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by
the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and
philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties,
including freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial. He was an outspoken
supporter of social reform despite strict censorship laws in France and harsh
penalties for those who broke them. A satirical polemicist, he frequently made
use of his works to criticize Christian Church dogma and the French institutions
of his day.