Posts tagged voltaire

The success of the play will be due to you. But to achieve this remember not to rush anything, to animate everything, to mingle sighs with your declamation, to leave long pauses. Above all perform the final couplet of your first act with much feeling and fire.

Voltaire, 12 December 1730

In celebration of Voltaire’s 320th birthday you can now read two extracts of his letters for free on Electronic Enlightenment. The above quote is an excerpt from a letter written on 12 December 1730 from Voltaire to Marie Anne Dangeville, a French actress who was making her debut. She quickly gained a reputation as an excellent comic actress, specializing in maidservants.

(via oupacademic)

8 years ago