Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary

The Dictionnaire philosophique (Philosophical Dictionary) is an encyclopedic dictionary. The alphabetically arranged articles often criticize the Roman Catholic Church Judaism Islam and other institutions. Due to the volatile content of the Dictionnaire Voltaire chose Grasset over his usual publisher to ensure his own anonymity. There were many editions and reprints of the Dictionnaire during Voltaire’s lifetime but only four of them contained additions and modifications. The Dictionnaire was a lifelong project for Voltaire. It represents the culmination of his views on Christianity God morality and other subjects.