Voltaire Trivia

0:03 Calarogus Shark Media Greeting's history Buffs, I'm journey Joe Mitchell, and welcome to an enlightened edition of five daily trivia questions on Voltaire's birthday. Let's explore this fascinating philosopher. Question one, what was Voltaire's real name and why did he choose Voltaire as his pen name after being imprisoned in the Bastille in seventeen eighteen? Question two? How did Voltaire become one of France's richest writers through a surprising lottery scheme? And what did he do with his fortune? Question three? Which famous ruler exchanged over eight hundred letters with Voltaire over their lifetimes despite never actually meeting in person? Question four?

0:51 What coffee habit did Voltaire develop that his doctor warned would kill him, yet he continued until his death at age eighty three? Question five? Which of Voltaire's books was publicly burned in Paris yet became a secret bestseller that influenced both the American and French revolutions? Will be right back with the answers after this break. Question one asked what was Voltaire's real name and why did he choose Voltaire as his pen name? After being imprisoned in the Bastille in seventeen eighteen. Answer. His real name was Francois Marie Arrouet. He chose Voltaire as an anagram of Arovett Lee, a Latinized version of his family name, plus the initials of the younger. The name change helped him publish while avoiding government censorship. Question two asked how did Voltaire become one of France's richest writers through a surprising lottery scheme and what did he do with his fortune? Answer? He discovered a mathematical error in the French National lottery that guaranteed wins if you bought all tickets of a certain sequence, then used his wealth to become a successful theater producer.

2:02 He formed a syndicate with other mathematicians to exploit the loophole before the government caught on. Question three asked which famous ruler exchanged over eight hundred letters with Voltaire over their lifetimes, despite never actually meeting in person. Answer. Catherine the Great of Russia corresponded with him from seventeen sixty three until his death in seventeen seventy eight, discussing everything from politics to gardening. She called him her literary soulmate and bought his library after his death. Question four asked what coffee habit did Voltaire develop that his doctor warned would kill him, yet he continued until his death at age eighty three. Answer. He drank fifty cups of coffee per day, mixed with chocolate, writing for up to eighteen hours straight. He credited this mixture with helping him write twenty thousand letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets.

2:53 Question five asked which of Voltaire's books was publicly burned in Paris yet became a secret bestseller that influenced both the American and French revolutions. Answer. Letters concerning the English Nation was burned in seventeen thirty four for praising English liberty and religious tolerance. Benjamin Franklin later distributed copies to members of the Continental Congress. That concludes Today's five daily trivia questions. I'm Journey Joe Mitchell, and today's questions were crafted with the help of AI technology. See you tomorrow.