Publisher's Synopsis
Voltaire's Critique of Pope's Optimism by Margaret Elizabeth Buchanan is a literary analysis of the philosophical differences between two prominent writers of the 18th century: Voltaire and Pope. The book explores Voltaire's criticism of Pope's optimistic worldview, as presented in his famous poem ""An Essay on Man."" Buchanan delves into Voltaire's satirical novel Candide, which is often seen as a direct response to Pope's work, and examines the ways in which Voltaire's writing challenges Pope's ideas of a benevolent God and a perfectly ordered universe. The book also considers the historical and cultural context in which these ideas were being debated, including the Enlightenment and the rise of scientific rationalism. Through a close reading of both Pope and Voltaire's texts, Buchanan offers a nuanced understanding of the philosophical debates of the time and the ways in which literary works can engage with and critique prevailing ideas.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.
