Reprint of the first edition which was published in Paris by E. Perrin over the period 1882-1890 (Besterman 6460). 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. This remains a standard work on Voltaire, describing 12,500 works.