Episodes

  • Candide Chapter 2 - What Became of Candide Among the Bulgarians

    Candide Chapter 2 - What Became of Candide Among the Bulgarians
    12 Oct 2026
    In which Candide, having suffered expulsion from a most blissful abode, finds himself at the mercy of the world’s harsh and curious fortunes, including an unexpected enlistment that tests both his body and spirit. Through trials of discipline, suffering, and royal clemency, he endures the peculiar customs of soldiery while clinging to the faintest hope bestowed by the gift of liberty.
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    6 min
  • Candide Chapter 1 - How Candide Was Brought up in a Magnificent Castle, and How He Was Expelled Thence

    Candide Chapter 1 - How Candide Was Brought up in a Magnificent Castle, and How He Was Expelled Thence
    9 Oct 2026
    In which a tender-hearted youth named Candide is raised in the splendid castle of a powerful Westphalian Baron, receiving philosophical instruction from the learned Pangloss alongside youthful affections for the Baron's daughter. The innocence of first love leads to an unfortunate discovery that disrupts the serene order of their best of all possible worlds.
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    7 min
  • Candide Introduction

    Candide Introduction
    6 Oct 2026
    In which a lively introduction celebrates Voltaire’s *Candide* as a timeless, swift-witted satire that playfully mocks the optimistic philosophy of its age with elegant brevity and unsparing humour. The commentary gently contrasts eighteenth-century satirical methods with modern approaches, inviting readers to appreciate the enduring gaiety and incisive wit that animate this gleeful philosophical tale.
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    9 min
  • Letters on England Letter XXIV - On the Royal Society and Other Academies

    Letters on England Letter XXIV - On the Royal Society and Other Academies
    3 Oct 2026
    In which the differences between the English Royal Society and the French Academy of Sciences are examined with a discerning eye, highlighting the virtues of order, reward, and specialization in the latter, alongside reflections on the learned but oftentimes tedious academic discourses. The letter also touches upon the thwarted efforts to establish an English Academy and muses on the balance between theoretical elegance and practical utility in the pursuit of knowledge.
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    15 min
  • Letters on England Letter XXIII - On the Regard that Ought to be Shown to Men of Letters

    Letters on England Letter XXIII - On the Regard that Ought to be Shown to Men of Letters
    30 Sep 2026
    In which Voltaire observes the English nation's unique reverence and practical support for men of letters and artists, contrasting it with the more formal and institutional patronage found in France. He also reflects on the public esteem bestowed upon the arts, notably theatre, despite occasional puritanical opposition, highlighting the respect paid to cultural figures and their enduring monuments.
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    11 min
  • Letters on England Letter XXII - On Mr. Pope and Some Other Famous Poets

    Letters on England Letter XXII - On Mr. Pope and Some Other Famous Poets
    27 Sep 2026
    In which the delicate art of English poetry is explored through the works of luminaries such as Mr. Pope and Dean Swift, with an emphasis on their distinct styles and the challenges of translating their wit and humour into foreign tongues. The discourse concludes with a thoughtful reflection on the comparative merits of English historians and dramatists, acknowledging the influence of French and Italian artistry upon English letters.
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    14 min
  • Letters on England Letter XXI - On the Earl of Rochester and Mr. Waller

    Letters on England Letter XXI - On the Earl of Rochester and Mr. Waller
    24 Sep 2026
    In which the genius of the English poets is revealed through the spirited satires of the Earl of Rochester and the varied talents of Mr. Waller, whose verses combine fire, tenderness, and grave eloquence to depict the human condition and the vicissitudes of power. Observations are made on the nature of poetic reputation and the noble pursuit of literature by England’s aristocracy, who elevate learning and artistic refinement above mere title.
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    16 min
  • Letters on England Letter XX - On Such of the Nobility as Cultivate the Belles Lettres

    Letters on England Letter XX - On Such of the Nobility as Cultivate the Belles Lettres
    21 Sep 2026
    In which Voltaire reflects upon the changing tastes of French nobility, lamenting a decline in the cultivation of polite literature, while contrasting it with the English admiration for learning fostered by their political freedoms. He also presents a youthful English nobleman’s poetical critique of Italy, echoing themes of pride, poverty, and the hollow ceremony of religious authority.
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    5 min