Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 13 October [1759] [D8533]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36732
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.109a-114), ‘[Mme du Deffand.] (M. 3945.)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 13 October [1759] [D8533]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Digital Resource:
Link to Archive Catalogue:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva, photocopy
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Il est bien triste, madame, pour un homme qui vit avec vous, d’ètre un peu sourd; je vous plains moins d’ètre aveugle.
Incipit Modernised:
Il est bien triste, madame, pour un homme qui vit avec vous, d’être un peu sourd; je vous plains moins d’être aveugle.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 13 October [1759].
Detailed Summary:
The writer laments the recipient’s lack of interest in significant historical and religious texts, arguing that the Old Testament offers a richer narrative than contemporary English novels. They express a preference for traditional literature and critique the superficiality of modern reading habits. Despite their personal struggles with illness and appetite, they offer recommendations for engaging literature and philosophical works, contrasting them with what they perceive as the inadequacies of French and English literature. The letter concludes with a reflection on the value of enjoying life and dismisses the current challenges as less significant compared to past hardships.
Keyword(s):
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
6 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The manuscript carries a few autograph additions.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
13 October [1759]
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970)
OCV Reference:
104, p. 397–402
OCV Manuscript Reference:
104, ‘MS2’, p. 402
Record created by:
Record created on: