Like most bookshops around Paris, Emile, which caters to young readers, sold all its copies of Voltaire's Treatise on Tolerance on Jan. 8, the day after two gunmen stormed into satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo killing eight journalists.

In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks that took the lives of 20 people, Voltaire's manifesto in favor of religious tolerance — written in 1763 — is flying off the shelves.

Emile employee Laurianne Ledus says she was surprised that an 18th-century manuscript could become a bestseller today.

"It's really, really weird," says Ledus. "But I think it is an important book, even 200 hundred years later."

Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire (1694-1778). The author and philosopher wrote 'Treatise on Tolerance,' on religious freedom, in 1763. It has gained a renewed readership after Islamist extremists carried out deadly attacks last month in Paris.

Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire (1694-1778). The author and philosopher wrote 'Treatise on Tolerance,' on religious freedom, in 1763. It has gained a renewed readership after Islamist extremists carried out deadly attacks last month in Paris.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Ledus says no one really understands why the attacks happened, and everyone is looking for answers.

"Children need to understand life and events and I think parents need this book in order to explain," Ledus says.

Enlightenment essayist, philosopher and historian Francois-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire, was born in Paris in 1694. He is famous for his wit, advocacy for freedom of speech, and stinging attacks on the Catholic Church.

In Voltaire's day, Protestants were persecuted and killed in France. In his book Voltaire defended the Protestants and excoriated the Catholic Church over its intolerance.

As Voltaire famously wrote, "Sir, I hate what you write, but I would give my life so that you could continue writing."

In the recent Paris attacks, four Jews were killed in a shooting that targeted a Kosher supermarket. And since the violence, dozens of mosques have been desecrated.

Leading intellectuals have been quick to draw comparisons between Voltaire and Charlie Hebdo. The Societe Voltaire, a group that safeguards the philosopher's legacy called Voltaire the rallying symbol for those who do not accept violence in the name of religion.

The publishing house Gallimard, which puts out the pocket edition of Voltaire's tolerance manifesto, says it is already on its second reprint. Nearly half as many copies have been sold in the last three weeks than in the last 12 years.

Publicist Bertrand Mirande-Iriberry says the philosopher's ideas reassure.

"At a time when our way of life, of being and living together has come under attack, this book is like an antidote," says Mirande-Iriberry. "It's a way of resisting."

Mirande-Iriberry believes the French also turned to Voltaire because he is part of their familiar mental landscape.

"When we're young, we all read Voltaire in school," he says. "And whether you read or not, if you're French, you've read Voltaire."

Gibert Jeune, a bookstore that sits on Paris' busy Place St. Michel in the heart of the Latin Quarter, supplies many of the books on French school curriculums. Clerk Guillaume ElKasser says students used to come in and buy Voltaire for class.

"Before the attacks, we sold Voltaire mostly for school," he says. "People didn't read him for their own pleasure. Now they are."

A popular news magazine reprinted passages from the philosopher's 1763 treatise. In such somber times, said Le Nouvel Economiste, we turn to Voltaire for solace, and a reminder of our long-standing devotion to tolerance.

Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

INDIRA LAKSHMANAN, HOST:

A book written 250 years ago has become a bestseller in France after last month's terrorist attacks on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, Voltaire's passionate cry for religious tolerance is flying off the shelves in Paris.

ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Like most bookshops around Paris, Emile, which caters to young readers, sold all its copies of Voltaire's "Treatise On Tolerance" on January 8, the day after Charlie Hebdo lost eight journalists in a terrorist attack. The store has had to reorder twice. Employee Laurianne Ledus says she was surprised that an 18th-century manuscript could become a best seller today.

LAURIANNE LEDUS: It's really, really weird. But I think it's really an important book, and even 200 years later, it's very, very important.

BEARDSLEY: Ledus says no one really understands why the attacks happened, and everyone is looking for answers.

LEDUS: The children have to understand, and they need to understand the life, the events. And I think parents need this book in order to explain.

BEARDSLEY: Enlightenment essayist, philosopher and historian Francois-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was born in Paris in 1694. He is famous for his wit, advocacy of freedom of speech and stinging attacks on the Catholic Church. In Voltaire's day, Protestants were persecuted and killed in France. In his book, Voltaire defended the Protestants and excoriated the Catholic Church over its intolerance.

In the recent Paris attacks, four Jews were killed because of their religion. And since the attacks, dozens of mosques have been desecrated. The Societe Voltaire, a group that safeguards the philosopher's legacy, called Voltaire the rallying symbol for those who do not accept violence in the name of religion. At publishing house Gallimard, which puts out the pocket edition of Voltaire's tolerance manifesto, Bertrand Mirande-Iriberry says the philosopher's ideas are reassuring.

BERTRAND MIRANDE-IRIBERRY: (Through interpreter) At a time when our way of life, of being, of living together has come under attack, this book is like an antidote, a way of resisting.

BEARDSLEY: Mirande Iriberry says in three weeks, Voltaire's book has sold nearly half as many copies as it has over the last 12 years. And Gallimard is on second reprint.

Gibert Jeune bookstore sits on Paris' busy Place St. Michel in the heart of the Latin Quarter. The large chain supplies many of the books on French school curriculums. Clerk Guillaume ElKasser says students used to come in and buy Voltaire for class.

GUILLAUME ELKASSER: Before this, we sell Voltaire mostly for schools. People don't really read it for their own pleasure. Now they are.

BEARDSLEY: A popular news magazine recently preprinted passages from the philosopher's 1763 treatise. In such somber times, said the magazine, we turn to Voltaire for solace and a reminder of our long-standing devotion to tolerance. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate