Louis XIV era

Author: [French] Voltaire
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-02-01
Features: In Voltaire's view, the era of Louis XIV did not mean the life of Louis XIV, but rather slightly earlier and later than the person's lifespan. Therefore, naming that era after Louis XIV does not mean Voltaire fully endorses everything about that era and its monarch. In a letter to Olivier dated August 24, 1731, Voltaire explicitly stated: "The battles, defeats, and gains and losses of cities have always been the same in history. In terms of war and politics, the era of Louis XIV is no better than other historical accounts and is even less interesting than the era of the League and Charles V. Without the fruits of art and the human spirit, there is nothing outstanding enough to attract the attention of later generations." Elsewhere, he also said that the focus of the book was "things worthy of attention by all ages, capable of depicting human intellect and customs, sufficient to serve as a moral lesson, and to inspire love for morality, scholarship, and the homeland."