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What works of Voltaire would you most recommend for a high school student? Are there any you would not recommend?

 

His body of work is so vast it's hard to choose. In a collection I have of humanities readings, they include from Voltaire just two texts: the short story "Micromégas" and an excerpt from an essay. In my Norton World Literature, they include Candide.

 

My ds has already read Candide, but he will be studying the Enlightenment this year, so I think he must read something by Voltaire. I was considering some of the Letters on the English, but I would welcome other suggestions!

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Have you considered the Philosophical dictionary? It's a series of musings/short essays on many diverse subjects, so you get both Voltaire's opinion in his usual witty, sardonic way and a view of his era through his choice of subjects. I think the book makes sense for an Enlightment unit study.

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