±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą

Event

Exhibition: Celebrating Voltaire/ Célébrer Voltaire

Monday, February 15, 2016toSunday, May 15, 2016
McLennan Library Building Lobby, 3459 rue McTavish, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C9, CA
Price: 
Free

La version française suit

Voltaire (1694-1778) is a universally knownĚýintellectual of the French Enlightenment, reflecting a spirit of rationalism and scientific enquiry at theĚýservice of progress and reform for society. He wasĚýpolitically and socially engaged with his times, and a brilliant and prolific writer in many genres: literary, historical, and philosophical. Voltaire wrote 236 books and pamphlets, starting with the play Ĺ’dipe printed in 1719.Ěý

The ideas propelled by Voltaire in the 18th century are still at the centre of debate and of collecting interest. His works are studied from many perspectives and through various models of analysis including literary criticism; bibliography; and book history studies,Ěýinvoking theĚýcreation, production, distribution andĚýreception of Voltaire’s works and their impact on print culture. All of these reflections lead toĚýconstructive cross-border discussions in both English and in French.

To celebrate the acquisition of the J. Patrick LeeĚýVoltaire Collection in 2013, the ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Library and ArchivesĚýis holding a one-day symposium “Celebrating Voltaire” in March 2016. This exhibition is mounted inĚýconjunction with the Voltaire Symposium and presents works by or on Voltaire covering nearly threeĚýcenturies. The exhibition includes a selection of the lifetime printings of editions by Voltaire, many of which displeased the religious and state powers of the era and were published outside of France. TheseĚýcontemporary editions are juxtaposed with the key 20th-century editions of Voltaire’s most popular work, Candide. A selection of “Voltairiana”includes sets of the Collected Works of Voltaire and several biographicalĚýaccounts that build and fashion Voltaire’s image as the recognized philosophe of the French 18th century. Ěý

The ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą Voltaire Collection provides a coherentĚýcritical mass of editions that complement the Library’s extensive 18th century holdings.

Organised by Ann Marie Holland and Dr. Richard Virr.


Voltaire (1694-1778) est un intellectuel des Lumières françaises, universellement connu pour son esprit de rationalisme et de recherche scientifique au service du progrès et de la rĂ©forme de la sociĂ©tĂ©. EngagĂ© dans les dĂ©bats politiques et sociaux de son temps, il fut un Ă©crivain brillant et prolifique dans de nombreux domaines: littĂ©raire, historique et philosophique. Il Ă©crivit 236 livres et pamphlets, en commençant par la pièce de théâtre ĚýĹ’dipe, publiĂ©e en 1719.

Les idĂ©es diffusĂ©es par Voltaire au XVIIIe siècle sont encore au centre des dĂ©bats actuels. Ses ouvrages sont Ă©tudiĂ©s Ă  partir de nombreuses perspectives et selon divers modèles d’analyse, notamment la critique littĂ©raire, la bibliographie, les Ă©tudes relatives Ă  l’histoire du livre, Ěýqui comprennent la crĂ©ation, la production, la distribution et la rĂ©ception des ouvrages de Voltaire ainsi que leur influence sur la culture de l’imprimĂ©. Toutes ces recherches conduisent Ă  des discussions constructives sur le plan international, tant en anglais qu’en français.

La Bibliothèque et Archives de l’UniversitĂ© ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą organise un symposium d’une journĂ©e en mars 2016, pour cĂ©lĂ©brer l’acquisition, en 2013, de la collection Voltaire de J. Patrick Lee. L’exposition est destinĂ©e Ă  illustrer le symposium consacrĂ© Ă  Voltaire et prĂ©sente des ouvrages de lui ou sur lui qui s’étalent sur près de trois siècles. Elle comprend un choix d’éditions de l’époque de Voltaire, dont bon nombre dĂ©plurent aux autoritĂ©s religieuses et Ă©tatiques du temps et furent publiĂ©es hors de France. Ă€ cĂ´tĂ© de ces ouvrages, on remarquera les principales Ă©ditions illustrĂ©es du 20e siècle de Candide, l’oeuvre la plus populaire de Voltaire. Le choix que nous avons fait pour l’exposition comprend les Oeuvres complètes de Voltaire ainsi que plusieurs Ă©crits biographiques qui ont construit et façonnĂ© son image de philosophe du XVIIIe siècle.

La collection Voltaire de l’UniversitĂ© ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą offre Ěýun ensemble cohĂ©rent d’éditions qui complète son importante collection relative au XVIIIe siècle.

OrganisĂ©e Ěýpar Ann Marie Holland et Dr Richard Virr.Ěý

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