Voltairomania, by Pierre-François Guyot Desfontaines

When Voltaire first crossed paths with the journalist-critic Abbé Pierre-François Guyot Desfontaines in the 1720s, the encounter seemed almost charitable: Voltaire used his influence to spring the abbé from Bicêtre prison (where he had been held on charges of sodomy) and to have a banishment order lifted so Desfontaines could return to Paris. But gratitude soon curdled. In his periodical Observations sur les écrits modernes, Desfontaines asserted a critic’s right to dissect Voltaire’s work, and the ever-sensitive philosophe reacted with wounded indignation. The simmering resentment meant that when Voltaire’s Éléments de la philosophie de Newton appeared in 1738—championing Newtonian empiricism over the long-entrenched Cartesian rationalism—Desfontaines seized the book as fresh ammunition in their feud.

Voltaire counter-attacked that November with a hastily printed rejoinder titled Le Préservatif, accusing Desfontaines of malice and ingratitude. Less than a month later, on 12 December 1738, Desfontaines fired back with La Voltairomanie, ou Lettre d’un jeune avocat. Issued anonymously by the Paris printer Chaubert to evade censorship, the 48-page pamphlet framed itself as a legal “mémoire” exposing Voltaire’s alleged vanity, opportunism and moral turpitude. Sold for a modest price and small enough to pass hand-to-hand, it was viciously personal—“perhaps the most sustained defamation Voltaire ever suffered,” according to modern scholars—and reportedly moved two thousand copies in its first fortnight.

The blast hit its target. At the château de Cirey, Voltaire was so shaken that he fainted twice, raged, then took to bed with fever; during January 1739 alone he penned thirty-eight letters about the affair, sued Desfontaines, lobbied ministers and even tried to have his adversary arrested. Paris’s lieutenant-general of police René Hérault finally imposed a ritual peace, forcing both men to sign formal retractions of their anonymous libels. Yet neither forgave nor forgot: Voltaire henceforth referred to Desfontaines as il buggerone abbate, while the abbé’s notoriety endured largely thanks to this very quarrel. La Voltairomanie thus stands as a textbook example of the combative literary culture of the early Enlightenment, where personal vendettas, philosophical dispute (Newton versus Descartes) and a still-fragile regime of press control collided in pamphlet form.

Two Ages, by Thomasine Gyllembourg

The young Claudine grows up as a foster child in a wealthy merchant family during and after the French Revolution. Nearly half a century later, her son, Charles, seeks out the descendants of the merchant family, who turn out to be narrow-minded and hypocritical.

Threshold, by Cornélio Penna

When Threshold was first published in 1935, it caused great perplexity in literary circles. The debut novel of Cornélio Penna, simple in form, compact in its succession of chapters—generally short, like scenes or inner tableaux of that nameless city nestled among mountains and the ghosts of the mining cycle—speaks to us of a world in decline, yet one that still lingers to haunt us.

The title Threshold already points to this undefined place between dream and reality, between past and present, between the natural and the supernatural, between belief and disbelief, between lucidity and madness, and gradually builds an atmosphere of suspense and mystery—not resolved like a detective story, but rather as an inner drama.

[This is my own, machine, translation; although I have given it the same title as a professional translation published elsewhere, for consistency.]

Mechanical Problems, by Aristotle (Pseudo-Aristotle)

This translation of the Pseudo-Aristotelian work Mechanical Problems is unusual in that ChatGPT spontaneously introduced its own answer style, while retaining accuracy in translation. I found this engaging and delightful, and chose to allow it, and it is retained here. If you do not like this, seek a professional translation, such as the one in the Loeb Classical Library.

“While the original Greek text doesn’t explicitly divide sections with headings, its natural flow suggests clear thematic breaks. Where appropriate, I inserted section breaks or reformulated complex chains of reasoning into bullet points or step-by-step progressions. This makes the text feel more accessible to a modern audience while staying true to its logical structure.” —ChatGPT

The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho, by Ronald Robson

The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho, by Ronald Robson, serves as a comprehensive introduction to one of Brazil’s most influential yet polarizing philosophers. It offers readers an insightful exploration of Olavo de Carvalho’s intellectual trajectory, from his early engagement with esotericism and astrology to his later critiques of modernity, science, and political thought. By focusing on Olavo’s major themes, such as his critique of modern philosophy, the role of intuition in knowledge, and the theory of the four discourses, Robson skillfully outlines the central ideas that shaped Olavo’s philosophical legacy.

In this work, Robson also highlights how Olavo’s philosophy is deeply rooted in the pursuit of reality through direct experience, beyond the conceptual frameworks that dominate contemporary thought. Olavo’s emphasis on “presence” as a foundational category for knowledge challenges modern epistemology and calls for a return to a more immediate, intuitive understanding of existence. The book takes readers on a journey through Olavo’s complex ideas, offering clarity on his unique blend of metaphysics, epistemology, and cultural critique.

More than just a biographical account, The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho situates Olavo’s work within the broader context of Western thought while addressing the controversies that surrounded his life and career. Robson’s writing provides both novices and seasoned readers with a clear, structured entry point into Olavo’s profound—and often misunderstood—philosophical contributions. Through careful analysis, the book reveals the ways in which Olavo sought to reframe the intellectual landscape of Brazil and, ultimately, the Western world.

Study, by Olavo de Carvalho

This series of newspaper columns by Olavo de Carvalho was collected in this order in the book “The Minimum You Need To Know So As Not To Be An Idiot”.

In “The Tragedy of the Serious Student in Brazil”, Olavo criticizes the Brazilian educational system, especially its universities, for fostering intellectual mediocrity and focusing on left-wing political activism rather than genuine intellectual development. He contrasts the rich intellectual climate of the early 20th century with the shallow, politically motivated discourse that dominates modern Brazilian academia.

In “If You Still Want to Be a Serious Student…”, Olavo offers practical advice for students seeking serious intellectual formation outside of the mainstream educational system. He encourages independent study of classical thinkers, warns against the intellectual decay within universities, and emphasizes the need for a deep, disciplined approach to learning, combining philosophical rigor with historical and spiritual insight.

In “For the Intellectual Restoration of Brazil”, Olavo argues that Brazil needs a generation of students capable of genuine intellectual engagement. He stresses the importance of building an intellectual life rooted in historical and philosophical traditions, free from the ideological constraints of contemporary academia. He calls for the creation of alternative institutions to foster this intellectual growth, especially through the support of the private sector.

Finally, in “Spirit and Personality”, Olavo explores the relationship between thought and spirit, highlighting the transcendent nature of truth. He distinguishes between mere intellectual activity and genuine intelligence, which involves perceiving truths that transcend thought. He advocates for education that fosters intellectual and spiritual maturity, but laments that this goal is unattainable in today’s universities, urging students with initiative to seek intellectual growth independently.

Liberation, by Olavo de Carvalho

This series of newspaper columns by Olavo de Carvalho was collected in this order in the book “The Minimum You Need To Know So As Not To Be An Idiot”.

In “Self-Explanation”, Olavo reflects on his personal journey away from socialism, describing the liberating process of dismantling youthful ideological lies in adulthood. He emphasizes the existential satisfaction of rejecting false ideals, likening this process to Pinocchio becoming a real boy, and criticizes those who never fully abandon socialism, mistaking it for a lost ideal rather than a deceptive ideology.

In “Recycled Idiots”, Olavo discusses how many former leftist militants, after abandoning communism, transition into “useful idiots” for the left. He explains that these individuals fail to fully sever their ties with leftist ideology, instead seeking refuge in the “democratic left,” where they become susceptible to manipulation by their former comrades. Olavo critiques this superficial break with communism, arguing that many remain trapped in self-deception.

In “Doing My Duty”, Olavo critiques the communist mentality that reduces all political critique to partisan motives. He argues for the importance of independent thought, free from ideological labels, and emphasizes the need to criticize wrongdoing without aligning with a specific political side. Olavo also claims that in Brazil, there is no true right-wing movement, only leftist dominance in both the government and opposition.

In “Why I Am Not a Liberal”, Olavo distinguishes between conservatism and liberalism, critiquing the liberal tendency to prioritize market freedom over moral principles. He argues that while both ideologies value freedom, conservatives ground it in traditional moral values, whereas liberals see it as a contractual right, even allowing for morally questionable actions like euthanasia. Olavo positions conservatism as a defense of Judeo-Christian values, while liberalism, in his view, dissolves these values through market logic.