The Story of Civilization, Volume 9: The Age of Voltaire

s/t: A history of civilization in western europe from 1715 to 1756, with special emphasis on the conflict between religion & philosophy Volume 9 in THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION, THE AGE OF VOLTAIRE, is the biography of a great man as well as the story of ideas & events that culminated in the French Revolution. But the revolution turned inward & set the stage for Napoleon, a disaster for Europe in general & for the French in particular. Of notable interest to the general reader is the Durants' conclusion that it was English ideas of skepticism, scientific experiment, "natural rights", constitutional government & individual liberty that started the French on their road to ruin.