La Princesse de Babylone

by Voltaire

« Ce qu’il y avait de plus admirable à Babylone, ce qui éclipsait tout le reste, était la fille unique du roi, nommée Formosante. Ce fut d’après ses portraits et ses statues que, dans la suite des siècles, Praxitèle sculpta son Aphrodite et celle qu’on nomma la Vénus aux belles fesses. Que de différence, ô ciel ! de l’original aux copies. Aussi Bélus était plus fier de sa fille que de son royaume. Elle avait dix-huit ans : il lui fallait un époux digne d’elle, mais où le trouver ? »

Genres: Classics, France, Philosophy, Fiction, 18th Century, Satire, Novels

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1768

About the author

Complete works (1880) : https://archive.org/details/oeuvresco...

In 1694, Age of Enlightenment leader Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. Jesuit-educated, he began writing clever verses by the age of 12. He launched a lifelong, successful playwriting career in 1718, interrupted by imprisonment in the Bastille. Upon a second imprisonment, in which Francois adopted the pen name Voltaire, he was released after agreeing to move to London. There he wrote Lettres philosophiques (1733), which galvanized French reform. The book also satirized the religious teachings of Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal, including Pascal's famed "wager" on God. Voltaire wrote: "The interest I have in believing a thing is not a proof of the existence of that thing." Voltaire's French publisher was sent to the Bastille and Voltaire had to escape from Paris again, as judges sentenced the book to be "torn and burned in the Palace." Voltaire spent a calm 16 years with his deistic mistress, Madame du Chatelet, in Lorraine. He met the 27 year old married mother when he was 39. In his memoirs, he wrote: "I found, in 1733, a young woman who thought as I did, and decided to spend several years in the country, cultivating her mind." He dedicated Traite de metaphysique to her. In it the Deist candidly rejected immortality and questioned belief in God. It was not published until the 1780s. Voltaire continued writing amusing but meaty philosophical plays and histories. After the earthquake that leveled Lisbon in 1755, in which 15,000 people perished and another 15,000 were wounded, Voltaire wrote Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne (Poem on the Lisbon Disaster): "But how conceive a God supremely good/ Who heaps his favours on the sons he loves,/ Yet scatters evil with as large a hand?"

Voltaire purchased a chateau in Geneva, where, among other works, he wrote Candide (1759). To avoid Calvinist persecution, Voltaire moved across the border to Ferney, where the wealthy writer lived for 18 years until his death. Voltaire began to openly challenge Christianity, calling it "the infamous thing." He wrote Frederick the Great: "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." Voltaire ended every letter to friends with "Ecrasez l'infame" (crush the infamy — the Christian religion). His pamphlet, The Sermon on the Fifty (1762) went after transubstantiation, miracles, biblical contradictions, the Jewish religion, and the Christian God. Voltaire wrote that a true god "surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough," or inspired "books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror." He also published excerpts of Testament of the Abbe Meslier, by an atheist priest, in Holland, which advanced the Enlightenment. Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary was published in 1764 without his name. Although the first edition immediately sold out, Geneva officials, followed by Dutch and Parisian, had the books burned. It was published in 1769 as two large volumes. Voltaire campaigned fiercely against civil atrocities in the name of religion, writing pamphlets and commentaries about the barbaric execution of a Huguenot trader, who was first broken at the wheel, then burned at the stake, in 1762. Voltaire's campaign for justice and restitution ended with a posthumous retrial in 1765, during which 40 Parisian judges declared the defendant innocent. Voltaire urgently tried to save the life of Chevalier de la Barre, a 19 year old sentenced to death for blasphemy for failing to remove his hat during a religious procession. In 1766, Chevalier was beheaded after being tortured, then his body was burned, along with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire's statue at the Pantheon was melted down during Nazi occupation. D. 1778.

Voltaire (1694-1778), pseudónimo de François-

Reviews

[Anna Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne

Dieses Buch kann ich nur subjektiv bewerten, weil es mein Herz gestohlen hat, es mich Tränen hat lachen lassen und ich mit dem kleinen Arschloch und Inge Koschmidder, nackt über Blumenwiesen fliegen möchte, wie ein Kind, albern durch die Welt tollen.
Voltaire wirkt so befreiend.

Welches Machwerk ist in der Lage, mich in derartige Zustände zu versetzen?
Ein unerhörtes, plumpes, dreistes Buch mit Protagonisten deren Schönheit alles übertrifft, das wir jemals gesehen haben. Eine Satire, in die lauter Miniabenteuer gepackt sind, eine schicksalhafte Geschichte, deren Motiv am Ende subversiv in ein Happy End umgekehrt wird, um parodistisch die Absurdität zu unterstreichen. Völlig übertrieben, rasant erzählt.
Einhörner!!
Ein Phönix der sprechen kann und halb zu Tode geküsst wird.
Ahhh--- Liebe!!!!

So und jetzt Rationalität an!

Dies war meine erste Begegnung mit Voltaire. Ja, ich habe einen Narren an ihm gefressen.
Sprachlich ist das Buch ein Feuerwerk. Übertriebene Gesten, Formulierungen, Handlungen. Ich habe aktuell eine Vorliebe für diese ausladende, üppige, verspielte Sprache.
Mit dieser Sprachbutterceme ummantelt er gekonnt, die plumpen Anspielungen und Verweise, die sich keiner Interpretation entziehen. Ein bisschen was verändern, was erfinden, aber jeder weiß, was er oder wen er meint. Es ist völlig egal. Stumpf ist Trumpf. Er gießt nämlich noch einen Liter köstlichste Satiresauce darüber und erlaubt sich die Dreistigkeit, da noch Chiliflocken, in Form von Behauptungen in den Raum zu stellen, die nach Empörung schreien.
Das Buch trifft auf voller Linie meinen Humor.
Natürlich haben wir hier kein Märchen, geiler Typ erobert noch schärfere Prinzessin.
Voltaire frickelt in dieses kurze Buch mal eben sämtliche Themen rein, zu denen er Gesellschaft abwatschen möchte. Allem voran Religionskritik. Die Orakelszene dazu, göttlich!
Des weiteren: Vegetarismus vs. Fleischesser, das Verhältnis Mensch zur Natur und seine Entfremdung, Klassismus, Wisschenschaft, Kriegswahnsinn/Macht, kulturelle/nationale Unterschiede (Stereotype), Zivilisation vs. Barbaren, Degenerierte Literatur, Medienkritik, die Verdrängung von Leuten die es drauf haben durch selbsternannte Experten (verdammt zeitgeistig), die Folgen von vermeintlicher Wahrheit, der Begrenzung von dem was wir wissen können, wie es zu Urteilsbildung kommt und die Liebe.

Bei der Liebe muss man jetzt ganz klar sagen, dass wir hier eine höfische Liebe vorfinden, ohne Selbstreferenz. Da zählt nur schön, stark und dem Stande angemessen. Dass Amazan auch noch klug ist und einen moralischen Kompass hat, der nur kurzfristig wegnickt 😆, ist Voltaire’s Amarena Kirsche oben drauf. Man sieht sich und zack, klingeln die Hochzeitsglocken. Na, oder auch nicht, im Falle Fermosante’s und Amazan’s, da die beiden noch die Welt durchreisen, aneinander vorbei reisen und sich gegenseitig etwas verzeihen müssen, bevor das klappt.

Ganz rational betrachtet würde das Buch 3 Sterne von mir bekommen.
Bei der Themenfülle ist das Buch zu kurz. Er rast mit einem durch die Szenen und Episödchen, wie ein Wahnsinniger. Natürlich kann das gesetzte Thema, nur ganz kurz, aber pointiert durch den Kakao gezogen werden. Es wird viel bereist. Das birgt dann bei etwas mehr als der Hälfte eine gewisse Redundanz.
Das Ende handelt er ganz fix und ohne schnick und schnack ab. Da bekommt man den Eindruck, dass ihm das jetzt egal ist. Seine Themen ist er ja los geworden...hrhrhrhr….

Aber ganz irrational, aus Freude an dieser Literatur, die mich in der nächsten düsteren Stimmung erneut erheitern darf, wird fett aufgewertet.

[A. Raca · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Konuşmak için düşünmek veya buna yakın bir şey yapmak gerekir."

Mitolojik dünya turu...
Çok keyifli...
🌟

[Anabela Mestre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantástica esta novela de Voltaire. Ao ler esta obra percorremos os sítios mais conhecidos da antiguidade, devido ao constante desencontro entre dois amantes. Mergulhe neste livro e saia deslumbrado.

[Ehsan'Shokraie' · Rating 3 out of 5]

صفحه اخر این اثر(ترجمه شاهزاده خانم بابل,ناصح ناطق)توسط مترجم حذف شده.
در پی نوشت امده:صفحه اخر این داستان به علت اینکه چیز مفیدی برای خواننده ایرانی نداشت حذف شد :)

[Mehmet]

Candide veya Zadig kadar parlak bir eser olmasa da; Voltaire ile yine mitolojiden tarihe pek çok bereketli pınardan beslenen büyülü bir yolculuğa çıkacaksınız.

[Rudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voltaires märchenhafter Roman ist voller Wunder, Witz und Weisheit. Ein Plädoyer für die Vernunft, erzählt im Gewand fantastischer und ganz und gar unglaublicher Erlebnisse seiner Titelheldin Formosante und ihres Geliebten Amazan. Mit Happy End.

[Armin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Voltaires Märchen fungiert in Stendhals Rot und Schwarz als Folie für die Liebesgeschichten zwischen Julien Sorel und Mathilde de La Mole, denn der arme Sekretär aus der Provinz erweist sich als ähnlicher Wunderknabe wie der Hirte in der Prinzessin von Babylon, der die reichen Bewerber aus Ägypten, Indien und Skythien in allen Disziplinen in die Schranken weist. Da sich die Liebenden immer wieder verfehlen oder aneinander irre werden, folgt eine Weltreise zueinander.
Diese bildet die eigentliche Attraktion für das ursprüngliche Zielpublikum, da die Verfolgungsjagd der Liebenden rund um den Globus zahlreiche Gelegenheiten gibt, das Kaiserreich, England, die venezianische Republik und den Papst aufs Korn zu nehmen. Da die Handlung nominell in grauer Vorzeit spielt, kann es sich ja nicht um die Gegenwart handeln. Leider langweilt dieser doch sehr zeitgebundene Witz je länger, desto mehr, auch wenn die Rettung der Prinzessin vom Scheiterhaufen der Inquisition und die Befreiung des Königs aus der Geiselhaft durch die Schwarzkutten, so etwas wie die Umsetzung von Écrasez l'infame in Romanform ist, zumal die professionellen Jäger von Hexen und Andersdenkenden auf den frisch für die Prinzessin und die Juden geschichteten Scheiterhaufen landen.
Alles in allem ein Porno für Kirchenkritiker und Gegner des Absolutismus, der auch schon die deutsche Kleinstaaterei aufs Korn nimmt. Leuten, die lediglich die Liebeshandlung von Rot und Schwarz besser verstehen wollen, sind mit den ersten beiden Kapiteln schon gut bedient.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

O génio de Voltaire produziu mais uma maravilhosa novela. Nesta o filósofo crítica as grandes civilizações e os seus monarcas. Relata a história da princesa da Babilónia que devido a sua formosura possui muitos pretendentes. Para desposa-la eles tem de prestar uma série de provas. Só que nenhum deles saí vencedor. Apenas um jovem pastor é corajoso o suficiente para ganhar o coração da princesa.
A donzela parte em busca do seu amado pelos vários países do mundo. É através dessa viagem que Voltaire crítica a civilização, honrando o amo puro e a fidelidade. Os desafortunados são aqueles que inspiram compaixão no autor. E são eles que merecem ser recompensados.

[Metin Yılmaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masal tadında bir Voltaire kitabı daha. Fakat bu kez sonu oldukça tuhaf bir hızla bitiyor.

[হামিম কামাল · Rating 4 out of 5]

বড়দের রূপকথা।
বলা যায়, বাংলার রাজপুত্রের সঙ্গে ব্যাবিলনের রাজকন্যার প্রেমকল্প।
বিশ্লেষণে ও সমাপ্তির স্বাতন্ত্রে বরাবরই অনন্য ভলতেয়ার। লেখা রাজারাণীর কথা, অলক্ষ্যে সাধারণের সঙ্গে করেন সমতাবিধান।
তার অপরিসর কোনো লেখাও মহাবিশ্ব, কমপক্ষে অর্ধেক পৃথিবী ঘুরিয়ে আনে। এখানে পুরো পৃথিবী ঘুরেছি।
ভালোবাসি ভলতেয়ারকে। আশ্চর্য আনন্দ উপহার দিয়েছেন।
ভালোবাসা সুনীলকুমার ঘোষ। অনবদ্য অনুবাদ।

[Ivva Tadiashvili · Rating 4 out of 5]

საკაიფო ზღაპრები აქვს ვოლტერს. თითქოს უბრალო ზღაპრებით სხვადასხვა ერებს დისავს და ძაან ბევრ ფილოსოფიურ თემას ეხება.

[Melis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooo mitoloji mi severim.. Sonu biraz çabuk oldu bittiye gelmiş gibi ama olsun güzeldi yine.

[Gustavo Iván · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voltaire a une manière particulièrement irrésistible de conduire le lecteur dans les histoires les plus fantastiques. Sa plume résiste les changements du temps et nous pouvons noter la éloquence de ses textes. Avec la Princesse de Babylone, je me suis retrouvé dans le mysticisme et le romantisme de une époque que valorise les traits les plus exquis. Cette livre reste une narrative fascinante et nécessaire pour les intéressés dans les Lumières.

[Max Heimowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce qu’il y avait de plus admirable à Babylone, ce qui éclipsait tout le reste, était la fille unique du roi, nommée Formosante. [...] Elle avait dix-huit ans : il lui fallait un époux digne d’elle, mais où le trouver ?

I had been dreading reading this story, and probably would not have done so had I not written my final paper for my French class on it, but little did I know that this was quite a gem of a tale. Formosante, the beautiful princess, is in search of a prince worthy of her love. Three suitors show up to pass a test of might and strength, and all fail. Then the unknown Amazan shows up, wows everyone, captures Formosante's fragile heart, and leaves. Formosante, heartbroken, leaves the Babylonian court in search of Amazan. Thus ensues a cat and mouse search, essentially, as they each visit the same places, missing each other (quite literally, as their boats ross paths and yet they don't see one another), until they finally cross paths.

Talking birds, beautiful people, and temptation abound. And Formosante, while fragile at the tale's start, is anything but at the end. Finding Amazan in bed with a beautiful woman, she vows to never see him again. Her talking bird eventually convinces her otherwise, but she is steadfast in her resolve. She's strong, knows what she wants, and leads her life as she pleases, defying custom. A welcome change of pace in the Voltairien canon of contes philosophiques.

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Los habitantes de Galia son los niños, y me gusta jugar con ellos"
La princesa de Babilonia es un cuento fantástico, un poco simple e infantil que narra las desventuras de Formosanta, princesa de Babilonia en busca de su amado Amazan.
Es un cuento corto y sencillo de entender y entretenido cuyo objetivo principal es la crítica de la sociedad europea moderna. El viaje sirve para describir las costumbres, sobre todo sociales y políticas de cada país de Europa como Francia, España, Alemania, Inglaterra y un largo etcétera.
En esa descripción crítica la monarquia y muchas organizaciones como la justicia, los representantes del pueblo, la iglesia, Etc.
Es una obra importante en la creación del pensamiento de la época, en el cual la libertad de cultos, de las ideas en sí misma era amenazada por la gran represion monarquica de aquellos o entonces.

[Paul Gaya Ochieng Simeon Juma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can comfortably say that this is one of Voltaire's books which I have read and understood fully. And that makes me proud. Not that I never understood some of his previous works, but lets jist say they were not easy to grasp. One thing they have in common is there profound moral stories.

Here Voltaire narrates to us they story of a princess who is being wooed by three kings and one ordinary man. However, she is not lucky enough to find her Knight. As the oracle predicted, she will not fall in love untill she travels through the whole world. So she goes to China, Russia, Egypt et cetera. Through her journeys we see the different political organizations and cultures.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Princess of Babylon Voltaire shamelessly uses his characters and the storyline to display his ciritcal ideas about society in the early eighteenth century. With his notorious sharpness, irony and use of methaphors he manages to write both and engaging and eloquent story by which he ropes you into his ideas without you even realize it. I often laughed out loud and marveled at his creativity in making comparisons and hiding easter eggs in the plot. Would recommend.

[Nara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one, toghether with the Candide, made me cry of laughing! The inteligent comedy is the outmost!

[Catarina Brandão · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este foi o primeiro livro que li de Voltaire, e foi com muito interesse que encontrei uma forte crítica à sociedade mascarada em torno de uma uma atribulada história de amor entre a mais bela mulher a habitar a terra, Formosanta, princesa da Babilónia, e o mais belo e sensato dos homens, o pastor gangárida Amazan.

De acordo com os costumes da época, organizou-se um evento formal onde o rei da Babilónia, através de esforços desportivos e morais, decidiria o príncipe que deveria casar a sua filha Formosanta. No meio de candidatos aparentemente tão nobres e ricos, Amazan surge, em toda a sua beleza, com humildade de caráter, e com apenas uma fénix (que Formosanta descobre, mais tarde, ter capacidade de falar) e um pagem. No entanto, este pastor humildade e justo revela-se o candidato mais adequado, e ambos os jovens se apaixonam loucamente um pelo outro. Infelizmente, o destino não lhes reserva bons ventos, e Amazan, equivocado, abandona a Babilónia pensando a Formosanta traíra o seu amor.

Enquanto descreve, com humor e surrealismo, a viagem que os dois amantes percorrem em torno do mundo, Formosanta em busca de Amazan, e Amazan a fugir se si próprio e do desespero que o assolava, Voltaire tece várias críticas à sociedade:

Primeiramente, critica a religião como um dogma, e as suas duras leis, que, por vezes, ultrapassam a racionalidade e se precipitam nas acusações. Comer animais é, também, um tópico abordado, sendo que Amazan vem de um país (Gangaridai) em que o paz reina, o amor prevalece, e o respeito mútuo entre todas as espécies é uma realidade, tanto que os animais "não-racionais" conseguem, tal como os humanos, falar, escolhendo não o fazer noutras sociedades devido aos maus-tratos que sofrem. Amazan diz, até, que "Os homens que se alimentam de carne e que ingerem licores fortes possuem um sangue azedo e adusto, que os enlouquece de cem maneiras diferentes. A sua principal demência é o furor de derramar o sangue dos seus irmãos e devastar planícies férteis para reinar em cemitérios.", o que está de acordo com a realidade em que vive, rodeado de países que praticam a guerra, e vivem cegos pela sede de poder e em constante desunião.

Um ótimo livro para passar o tempo, embora seja mais denso do que pareça à primeira vista!

[idk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je l’ai lu avec le conte sur micromegas au début j’avais pas compris que j’avais acheté micromegas et que à l’intérieur ils avaient rajoutés la princesse de Babylone donc quand j’avais lu et que l’histoire avait changé je m’étais dit « wtf pourquoi ça a changé ? » alors que c’était juste ma stupidité ;-;

[Marine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[Yasemin Macar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tarihi kurguyla biraz fantastik biraz mistik bir hava yaratılarak ilginç bir kitap olmuş.

[Grazia Gazale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Als immer, gut👍 Voltaire ist der Beste. Das Ende brachte mich zum Lachen. Doch, eine Wendung der Geschichte gefiel mir nicht.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Edwin Piston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante satira de un tropo clasico de la literatura como lo es el de la princesa y el galante de cualidades divinas que se interpone guiado por el destino.

Principalmente la lateralidad que hay entre lo que pasa con nuestros personajes principales y el mundo en el que viajan hace aparente un doble discurso entre la virtud y los placeres terrenales.

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

What begins as an enchanting tale of love and bravery descends into an admittedly droll, yet rather formulaic and tiresome lambasting of Voltaire's contemporary Europe.

I first heard about this book in connection with early, "proto-fantasy" stories which, like folk and fairy tales, paved the way for later Victorian fantasy novels such as those by MacDonald and Morris. I had high hopes for Voltaire's. At first I was delighted by the magical creatures that he introduced: whole herds of unicorns, a talking phoenix that is 28 millennia old, an impossibly powerful sword called "Thunderer," and even a lost race of peaceful, enlightened vegetarians living East of the Ganges River. How wonderful would this book have been if Voltaire had told an original story with these elements? Instead he introduces them and then uses these strange creatures, these "aliens" to experience various nations and people groups, occasionally praising them (as is the case with the Chinese and Russians) and usually critiquing them (as is the case especially with the Italians). In everything, Voltaire viciously attacks the Catholic Church, specifically her wealth, pomp, violence, and hypocrisy.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this book; it is, after all, a parable and not a fairy tale. It is more like Candide then I expected, but it's lacking some of Candide's light touches. But Voltaire in "The Princess of Babylon" almost set up a rollicking fairy tale; he almost achieved a dream-like flight of the imagination, taking great pleasure in exotic worlds and new possibilities. But, like I said, it's not this; it's a parable with strong and opinionated moralizing.

Lest I sound too disappointed, I should say that Voltaire's critique of society, especially the inane, childish pleasure-seeking of his fellow Frenchmen, is highly amusing. It is just not compelling enough for me to return to, revel in, or tell others about. This did not fill me with the excitement, wonder, and awe that other highly imaginative tales do. But, I do admit that with the above-mentioned mythical elements, Voltaire is doing something new. Authors like Beagle who wrote "The Last Unicorn" will obviously draw upon unicorns and mythical creatures again. Voltaire's semi-fantastic tale thus functions as a kind of bridge between the ancient and medieval-epics and the modern novel, at least when it comes to some of these elements and tropes now commonly expected to be present in any fairy tale or "fantasy" story.

[Monur B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voltaire'in her zamanki gibi çağlar ötesine bile hitap edecek etik anlayışını, sağduyusunu yansıtan bir alegorik eser. Kısaca iki aşığın kavuşana kadar dünyada bir tur atmasını konu alıyor. Kendi memleketine, diğer avrupa ülkelerine ve özellikle de papalık makamına hiciv kisvesi altında ağır eleştirileri var. Ayrıca İspanyol engizisyonunu da unutmamış. Din yergisi bugün bile yobaz yönetimlerin (hangisi değil ki zaten) kaldıramayacağı düzeyde. Papalığın ve Voltaire'in birbirine düşman olduğu zaten bilinmeyen bir şey değil ama papanın, papalığın, avrupanın ve avrupa değerlerinin bugün bile bu seviyede eleştirilemiyor olması adeta dünya skandalı. Batıcı ve ilerlemeci bakış anlayışının adeta bir glitch'i. O günden bugüne sanki ilerleme yerine bir gerileme var. Evrensel etik kurallarının, fikir ve düşünce özgürlüğünün, kişilik haklarının içi bugün öylesine boşaltılıp sahte değerlerle ikame edilmiş ki yüzyıllar öncenin Voltaire'i gibi içimizden geleni söyleyemiyoruz. Bu kitabı okuyunca post modern, neo liberal, batı destekli ilerleme tapınımcılarının bulanık çamurundan, leş kokulu bataklığından kristal berraklığında serin sulara girmek gibi iç huzuru buluyor insan.

[Haman · Rating 3 out of 5]

در این کتاب شش داستان از شیرین ترین داستانهای ولتر نویسنده نامدار فرانسوی ترجمه شده است سفرنامه اسکارمانتو داستان جوانی است که در جستجوی حقیقت گرد جهان می گردد ولی همه جا جز گمراهی و تعصب چیزی نمی بیند در داستان سپید و سیاه ولتر مساله سرنوشت و جبر را به میان می کشد و در پی گشودن این معماست که اگر ادمیان در طی راههای پر و پیچ و خم زندگی ازادند پس معنای سرنوشت و تقدیر اسمانی چیست در داستان جانو و کولن با شوخی های لطیف و کنایه های فراوان تازه به دوران رسیده ها را به باد استهزا می گیرد و در داستان گاو سفید از مسخ شدن بخت النصر و عقاید سخیف کشیشان سخن می گوید در داستان شاهزاده خانوم بابل سرگذشت پر اشوب و ماجرای دلداگی دختری را بهانه می کند و از زندگی مردم اسیا و اروپای قرن هیجدهم نکته های بدیع می اموزد و در داستان میکرومگاس نویسنده زمین را از دریچه چشم یکی از ساکنان ستاره شعرای یمانی می نگرد و به گرفتاریهای مردم زمین می خندد

despite the above explaination but writing style of book is so boring.

[Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante o conto/novela/romance curto de Voltaire, onde por meio da ficção coloca algumas das suas ideias políticas e históricas. Pareceu-me uma narrativa atraente, envolvente e com alguns recursos narratológicos interessantes, apesar de, claro, haver uma distância muito grande com respeito aos romancistas da época, dado que não era a praia dele e, com certeza, tampouco pretendia que assim fosse. Enfim, bem melhor do que esperava, pelo que recomendo àqueles que, assim como eu, estavam receosos, de ler uma obra ficcional do século XVIII.

[Pouria Paimard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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