Episodi

  • 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
    Sep 27 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
    Sep 24 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
    Sep 21 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
  • Letters on England Letter XIX - On Comedy

    Letters on England Letter XIX - On Comedy
    Sep 18 2026
    In which the nature and qualities of English comedy are examined through the works of celebrated playwrights such as Wycherley, Congreve, and Vanbrugh, with particular attention paid to their wit, spirit, and the reflection of national character. Voltaire contends that true appreciation of comedy demands intimate familiarity with the language and customs of its country, as it is a mirror of the national foibles and manners rather than universal themes.
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    14 min
  • Letters on England Letter XVIII - On Tragedy

    Letters on England Letter XVIII - On Tragedy
    Sep 15 2026
    In which the English theatre is examined through the lens of its grand yet irregular genius, as exemplified by Shakspeare’s sublime but unorthodox plays, whose beauties and faults have shaped dramatic art in that island. The discourse further contrasts this with more structured efforts by writers like Mr. Addison, whose elegant tragedy “Cato” strikes a balance between dignity and decorum, though often marred by the imposition of conventional love plots, revealing a national theatrical spirit both wild and refined in its evolution.
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    19 min
  • Letters on England Letter XVII - On Infinites in Geometry, and Sir Isaac Newton’s Chronology

    Letters on England Letter XVII - On Infinites in Geometry, and Sir Isaac Newton’s Chronology
    Sep 12 2026
    In which we muse upon the labyrinthine nature of infinity explored through the ingenious calculus of fluxions, a mighty invention that tames the immeasurable in the service of geometry, and observe the stirring dispute over its true inventor. We then accompany the venerable Sir Isaac Newton in his bold endeavours to illuminate the shadowy realm of antiquity's chronology, employing astronomical observations to reorder the dates of history with a most ingenious and controversial algebraic precision.
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    18 min
  • Letters on England Letter XVI - On Sir Isaac Newton’s Optics

    Letters on England Letter XVI - On Sir Isaac Newton’s Optics
    Sep 9 2026
    In which the enlightened author expounds upon the marvels unveiled by Sir Isaac Newton’s studies of light and colour, revealing the natural philosophy that dispels former mistaken notions and elucidates the very essence of visibility and optics. With a mixture of reverence and wonder, he details Newton’s ingenious prism experiments and reflections on the limits of telescopic observation, thereby casting new light upon the mysterious workings of the universe.
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    12 min
  • Letters on England Letter XV - On Attraction

    Letters on England Letter XV - On Attraction
    Sep 6 2026
    In which the profound meditations of Sir Isaac Newton are gently unfolded, revealing his elegant refutation of Cartesian vortices and his celebrated conception of universal gravitation as the celestial principal animating the motions of planets and comets alike. This luminous discourse embraces the harmony of observed phenomena with mathematical law, inviting reflection on a mysterious, yet incontrovertible, force that binds the heavens without fully unveiling its ultimate cause.
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    27 min