Voltaire Biography

Voltaire Today France is known as as a place of beauty and democracy. The France that can be seen today is a result of the French Revolution and the many writers that protested their government. One example of a revolutionary writers is Voltaire. Voltaire’s childhood and his multiple exiles influenced why and what he wrote.
Voltaire’s career in writing was made possible by his childhood and the rest of his early life. He was born into an upper class family in November of 1694. His father was a well-to-do public official. Voltaire ,at birth,was given the benefits of political favor and prosperity. His family's financial status allowed him free time to go to school at the prestigious college Louis-le-grand (Shank, J.B.). However, Voltaire’s father disapproved of of his career choice. In order to pay for his own expenses Voltaire joined a group of people, that exploited a loophole in the French lottery. This scheme made Voltaire rich and able to focus himself on writing (Andrews, Evan).
After the death of King Louis XIV Voltaire’s popularity grew under the morally relaxed regency. However in May 1716 Voltaire was exiled for writing poems that mocked the French regent. Only one year later he was imprisoned in Bastille for writing more scandalous verses about the regent (Pomeau). In order to escape further jail time Voltaire exiled himself to England. During his exiled he embraced the British way of life and culture. Many of Voltaire’s future readings would be affected greatly by his time in exile, which allowed him to see other places in the world than France