Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694-1778) was the universal genius of the Enlightenment. In his early career he was briefly committed to the Bastille for his satires and later exiled to England. His most characteristic works are philosophical tales, of which Candide (1759) is the most famous. Theo Cuffe (translator) is also the translator of Penguin Classics' forthcoming edition of Candide. Haydn Mason (introduction and notes) is Professor of French at Bristol University.

• MicromegasIntroductionChronology of Voltaire's Life and TimesFurther ReadingNote on the TextsTranslator's NoteContesCuckoldageThe One-eyed PorterCosi-SanctaMicromegasThe World As It IsMemnonLetter from a TurkPlato's DreamThe History of the Travels of ScarmentadoThe Consoler and the ConsoledThe Story of a Good BrahminPot-PourriAn Indian IncidentLord Chesterfield's EarsMelangesAccount of the Illness, Confession, Death and Apparition of the Jesuit BerthierDialogue between a Savage and a GraduateDialogue between Ariste and AcrotalThe Education of DaughtersWives, Submit Yourselves to Your HusbandsDialogue between the Cock and the HenConversation between Lucian, Erasmus and Rabelais, in the Elysian FieldsNotes