Marmontel, Voltaire and the 'Bélisaire' Affair

John Renwick, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the John Orr Professor of French (Edinburgh University, 1980-2006), long collaborated with the Voltaire Foundation (1970-2022), producing for the OCV numerous editions. In parallel he worked to secure a re-evaluation of Jean-François Marmontel (1723-1799) : in March 2021, he was awarded the Prix littéraire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes de la Francophonie for his ‘pioneering rehabilitation’ of Jean-François Marmontel; in July 2021, he was awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Senior Career Medal (the Sir Walter Scott Medal) for his ‘monumental and ground-breaking’ contribution to the critical edition of the OCV’ and his key role in the ‘resurrection of the highly significant figure, Jean-François Marmontel’.

• Introduction Part I. The background and the book Chapter 1. The genesis of Bélisaire examined Chapter 2. Marmontel and the conte moral Chapter 3. Bélisaire, the composition Chapter 4. Bélisaire, the stages leading to publication Chapter 5. The XVth chapter of Bélisaire Part II. The Bélisaire affair proper, 1767-1768 Chapter 1. The genesis of the affair, February-March 1767 Chapter 2. Marmontel in the pillory Chapter 3. The battle commences Chapter 4. The final stages, September 1767 - February 1768 Chapter 5. Conclusion Chronological table Appendices Bibliography