Citations throughout the manuscript include: Voltaire, Rousseau, Boileau, Madame Deshoulières, Corneille, Racine, and La Fontaine. The author was familiar with Rhétorique Francoise, a L’Usage des Jeunes Desmoiselles by Gabriel Henri Gaillard. The handbook is made up of excerpts from the following:
p.1-150: Discours préliminaire sur la Rhétorique
p.161-213: Seconde Partie de la Rhétorique
p.222-238: Traité du Récit ou l’Art de Raconter
p.242-332: Troisième Partie de la Rhétorique

Voltaire writes that one of the greatest consolations he has received in his infirm old age is reading the works that Guazzesi wanted to send him. He adds that he is not well enough to thank him personally but, though weak, can feel the full force of his merit. Voltaire goes on to say that Racine’s Iphigénie was worthy of being translated by Guazzesi but that he has done too much honour to others, adding that Guazzesi’s observations are as beautiful, instructive, and learned as his poetry is graceful and loveable. Voltaire then discusses the mountains he can see from his windows, noting that he can’t determine which road Hannibal took through them and that he very much doubts that he cleared his way with vinegar. He concludes by once again praising Guazzesi’s way of writing, noting that it pleases him infinitely.

Voltaire opens by addressing the news that Madame de St Julien is coming to Geneva, stating that he is astonished by and happy about it. He then asks if d’Argental has read two volumes of a work by a ‘misérable’ who argues that Shakespeare is the only good model of tragedy, noting that the author sacrifices the French to his idol as pigs were once sacrificed to Ceres. He expresses particular woe at the author omitting to mention Corneille and Racine. Voltaire bemoans that this author had gotten the royal family to subscribe to his work, asking if d’Argental had read his abominable grimoire of which there were still five volumes outstanding, before stating that they should not suffer this affront. Voltaire then states that what makes matters worse is that he was the first to speak of Shakespeare and show the French some pearls within his collective works (dubbed by Voltaire as manure), adding that he never thought his introduction of the French to Shakespeare would lead to the trampling of the crowns of Racine and Corneille He asks d’Argental to be as angry as he is. In the conclusion of the letter, he discusses plays to be performed in Geneva.

Voltaire opens by addressing the news that Madame de St Julien is coming to Geneva, stating that he is astonished by and happy about it. He then asks if d’Argental has read two volumes of a work by a ‘misérable’ who argues that Shakespeare is the only good model of tragedy, noting that the author sacrifices the French to his idol as pigs were once sacrificed to Ceres. He expresses particular woe at the author omitting to mention Corneille and Racine. Voltaire bemoans that this author had gotten the royal family to subscribe to his work, asking if d’Argental had read his abominable grimoire of which there were still five volumes outstanding, before stating that they should not suffer this affront. Voltaire then states that what makes matters worse is that he was the first to speak of Shakespeare and show the French some pearls within his collective works (dubbed by Voltaire as manure), adding that he never thought his introduction of the French to Shakespeare would lead to the trampling of the crowns of Racine and Corneille He asks d’Argental to be as angry as he is. In the conclusion of the letter, he discusses plays to be performed in Geneva.

Voltaire opens by addressing the news that Madame de St Julien is coming to Geneva, stating that he is astonished by and happy about it. He then asks if d’Argental has read two volumes of a work by a ‘misérable’ who argues that Shakespeare is the only good model of tragedy, noting that the author sacrifices the French to his idol as pigs were once sacrificed to Ceres. He expresses particular woe at the author omitting to mention Corneille and Racine. Voltaire bemoans that this author had gotten the royal family to subscribe to his work, asking if d’Argental had read his abominable grimoire of which there were still five volumes outstanding, before stating that they should not suffer this affront. Voltaire then states that what makes matters worse is that he was the first to speak of Shakespeare and show the French some pearls within his collective works (dubbed by Voltaire as manure), adding that he never thought his introduction of the French to Shakespeare would lead to the trampling of the crowns of Racine and Corneille He asks d’Argental to be as angry as he is. In the conclusion of the letter, he discusses plays to be performed in Geneva.

Voltaire opens by addressing the news that Madame de St Julien is coming to Geneva, stating that he is astonished by and happy about it. He then asks if d’Argental has read two volumes of a work by a ‘misérable’ who argues that Shakespeare is the only good model of tragedy, noting that the author sacrifices the French to his idol as pigs were once sacrificed to Ceres. He expresses particular woe at the author omitting to mention Corneille and Racine. Voltaire bemoans that this author had gotten the royal family to subscribe to his work, asking if d’Argental had read his abominable grimoire of which there were still five volumes outstanding, before stating that they should not suffer this affront. Voltaire then states that what makes matters worse is that he was the first to speak of Shakespeare and show the French some pearls within his collective works (dubbed by Voltaire as manure), adding that he never thought his introduction of the French to Shakespeare would lead to the trampling of the crowns of Racine and Corneille He asks d’Argental to be as angry as he is. In the conclusion of the letter, he discusses plays to be performed in Geneva.

Notebook ‘1934’ includes 137 encrypted pages, plus the backs of the covers and unencrypted cover sheers. Gide discusses his notes on his readings (Dos Passos, Shakespeare, Hölderlin, Voltaire, Racine, Lamennais, Zola, Goethe, Platen, Schiller, Descartes, and Balzac), his reflections on music (Bach and Chopin), and his reflections on lierature (Goethe, Voltaire, the diction of verses, and Baudelaire).

The copybook includes copies of Charles Pierre Callardeau’s ‘Epitre D’heloise’, religious poems by Racine le Fils, and works by Rousseau and Voltaire.

The poems are chosen from the works of Jean de Rotrou, François de Malherbe, Honorat de Bueil, marquis de Racan, François Maynard, Antoine Godeau, évêque de Vence, Robert Arnauld d’Andilly, Pierre Corneille, Louis Racine, Étienne Pavillon; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Jean-Baptiste Rousseau,  and Voltaire.

The poems are chosen from the works of Jean Rotrou, François de Malherbe, Honorat de Bueil, marquis de Racan, François de Maynard, Antoine Godeau, évêque de Vence, Robert Arnauld d’Andilly, Pierre Corneille, Louis Racine, Étienne Pavillon; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, and Voltaire.