First of all, thanks very much to Stacy for the reminder. I can't believe that I am SO busy that I'd forget Voltaire's birthday ... but it certainly appears that way!
Happy 312th Monsieur de Voltaire!
Voltaire might have reminded me with one of his many wonderful quotes that "the superfluous is very necessary!" (I just love that one) ... and so, after I finish writing this evening, I'll enjoy a glass of red Burgundy in the master's honor.
But, the question for this post is ... is this really his birthday at all? Those interested in Voltaire might, like me, have read "Voltaire Almighty" by Roger Pearson, the most recent revision to Voltaire's history (each new biography seems to rewrite a bit of the previous - as Mr. Pearson even notes in his text). (If you haven't yet, it's most definitely worth the read ... a wonderful work....though that's beside the point here.)
Mr. Pearson reports that Voltaire believed himself to have been the product of an affair between his mother and a songwriter (the chevalier Guerin de Rochebrune), and actually believed his real birthday to have been several months earlier, on February 20th (still in the year 1694).
Since the world has been celebrating November 21st, however, as his birthday for 312 years, I see no reason to change that now. And, I have another reason. My nephew Jared turns 13 today. I like to think that it bodes well for his future to share his birthday with such a man as Voltaire ...
So, bon anniversaire to Jared and to Monsieur de Voltaire...
...and, of course, happy Tuesday to everyone!