Ian Davidson has written a biography of Voltaire, published by Profile.
The desire to be candid(e) requires me to report that none of the reviews of this book that I have thus far encountered leave me wanting to to buy or read the thing. Here are three examples:
Susan Elkin, in The Independent, makes it seem as if the book is about celebrity gossip -- with whom was Voltaire sleeping when.
Andrew Hussey, in the Financial Times, says that Ian Davidson "makes the point that much of Voltaire's massive literary output is now out-of-date when it is not simply tedious."
Sam Leith, in The Spectator, tells me that Davidson makes Voltaire seem like "a starlet perpetually leaving sex tapes out where the builders can find them."
I wish Davidson good luck with this book, but I personally will sit this one out.
Showing posts with label Voltaire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voltaire. Show all posts
25 April 2010
08 August 2009
A Heart in the Silver Case
I have of late been skimming about in, not really reading, a book by Cliff Sloan and David McKean about the Supreme Court's decision in MARBURY v. MADISON. The book is titled, appropriately enough, The Great Decision.
Anyway, I have happened upon this bit. After describing Chief Justice John Marshall's devotion to his wife, Polly Marshall, nee Ambler, the authors write of one possible exception to a life of fidelity.
"In his stay in Paris during the XYZ Affair, Marshall lodged with the Marquise de Villette, who had been raised by Voltaire and who kept Voltaire's heart in a silver case in her sitting room. Marshall was thoroughly enthralled with the Marquise, leading to speculation that they may have had an affair ...."
Ewww. She kept a heart (never bloody well mind whose!) in a silver case in her sitting room? Well, we should at least be glad she didn't have it in a bronze case. That would just be weird.
The XYZ Affair had its own fascinations, no doubt but I don't see how Marshall could have kept up with the intrigue if he was lodging in a home with a dead guy's heart lying around.
By the way, yes I'm aware that The New York Times has sacked Ben Stein. I'll save my discussion of this much-deserved firing for Thursday. Watch for it.
Anyway, I have happened upon this bit. After describing Chief Justice John Marshall's devotion to his wife, Polly Marshall, nee Ambler, the authors write of one possible exception to a life of fidelity.
"In his stay in Paris during the XYZ Affair, Marshall lodged with the Marquise de Villette, who had been raised by Voltaire and who kept Voltaire's heart in a silver case in her sitting room. Marshall was thoroughly enthralled with the Marquise, leading to speculation that they may have had an affair ...."
Ewww. She kept a heart (never bloody well mind whose!) in a silver case in her sitting room? Well, we should at least be glad she didn't have it in a bronze case. That would just be weird.
The XYZ Affair had its own fascinations, no doubt but I don't see how Marshall could have kept up with the intrigue if he was lodging in a home with a dead guy's heart lying around.
By the way, yes I'm aware that The New York Times has sacked Ben Stein. I'll save my discussion of this much-deserved firing for Thursday. Watch for it.
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