Passionate Minds by David Bodonis tells about the passionate love between Voltaire and Emile De Chatelet. Voltaire a French Play Wright who like Rousseau belonged to the French Enlightment movement that brought about the French Revolution during 1789. Voltaire through his plays emphasized the theme of Freedom and pursuit of personal happiness. He ridiculed corruption that prevailed among the government officials.  

Emile Du Chatelet was a young aristocrat woman who carved for knowledge. She was desperate to learn more. Women in French during that period were not allowed to read. Locke’s writings managed to give her consolation. She needed a partner to go forward in thought. But her passion is science. To advance her scientific knowledge she looked for a perfect companion to guide her through. When Voltaire and Emile chanced to meet they hit off perfectly. Voltaire admired the intelligence of Emile. Emile adored him. In his company she felt confident in pursuing her ambition. Emile was fascinated by Newton’s latest theory of Gravity and able to grasp the complex calculations. Later she translated the Principia Mathamatica in French which become a phenomenal hit after her death.

Women’s education in France was not allowed. Even in convents the education that offered was limited.

“The level of knowledge was stunningly low…. The great majority of French women could not sign their name in marriage registers, let alone read anything complex. ….. In the few schools that were available, all science, philosophy, and literature were taboo. A small amount of history was allowed, but only, as one contemporary puts it in order not to confuse a Roman Emperor with an Emperor of Chinese.”

Such is the level of education in Paris those days. Emile’s achievement is enormous. Emile’s views on feminism reflected later during French Revolution. I dig a little deeper into French Revolution.

Failure in the distribution of food to Paris is the immediate cause for the Revolution. But writers like Voltaire and Rousseau laid the foundation through their writings. Rousseau’s writing that the government is for the commoners caught the imagination of the French public. But Rousseau is not a great admirer of Women’s Enlightment. The great writer in his book Emile, described his vision of an ideal education for women. Women should take an active role in the family, Rousseau insisted, by breast-feeding and educating their children, but they should not venture to take active positions outside the home.

But women participated in all the spheres of the revolution. During Revolution Olympe de Gouges wrote a book on Declaration of the rights of Women. She even sat at the Revolutionary committee that decided the fate of the nobles and aristocrats. Unfornutely she was suspected of treason and she too was guillotined. Emile might have sowed the seeds for future fights for civil and political rights.

Bodanis’s book is a fascinating account of what really happened between them. No doubt I loved it. Emile Du Chatelet fascinated me as did another Historical Character Anne Boleyn the wife of Henry VIII (the mother Queen Elizabeth I) who was later beheaded on triumphed up charge.