Publisher's Synopsis
Letters on the English, also known as Lettres Philosophiques, is a collection of essays by the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. The book, originally published in 1733, is a series of letters written by the fictional Persian traveler Usbek to his friend Rustan, describing his observations and experiences of English society during his stay in England. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, science, literature, and philosophy. Voltaire uses Usbek's observations to compare and contrast English society with French society, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both. The book is particularly notable for its criticism of the French monarchy and the Catholic Church, which led to its banning in France. The book also praises the English system of government, particularly its emphasis on individual liberty and religious tolerance. Overall, Letters on the English is a significant work of the Enlightenment period, offering a unique perspective on English society and its impact on European thought.But all these wonders are merely but the opening of his discoveries. He found out the secret to see the vibrations or fits of light which come and go incessantly, and which either transmit light or reflect it, according to the density of the parts they meet with. He has presumed to calculate the density of the particles of air necessary between two glasses, the one flat, the other convex on one side, set one upon the other.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
