Voltaire at Ferney
When Voltaire sought refuge at Ferney in 1758, he had already led a tumultuous existence. He had been in or out of favour at various royal courts, writing successful plays or writing flops, jotting slanderous verses or penning philosophical works. His first 66 years had been marked by fame and fortune—indeed, he was very wealthy—but also by scandal, grief, imprisonment and flight. Voltaire had been living temporarily at Les D ?lices in Geneva, but turmoil followed him wherever he went…
