ميكروميغاس

Voltaire's lengthy correspondences do not contain anything that might indicate the period in which _Micromegas_ was published. The engraved title of the edition that I believe to be the original displays no date. Abbot Trublet, in his _Biography of Fontenelle_, does not hesitate to say that _Micromegas_ is directed against Fontenelle; but does not speak of the date of publication. I have therefore retained that given by the Kehl editions: 1752. However there is an edition carrying the date of 1700. Is this date authentic? I would not make this claim; far from it. I have therefore followed the Kehl editions, in which _Micromegas_ is preceded by this warning: This novel can be seen as an imitation of Gulliver's Travels. It contains many allusions. The dwarf of Saturn is Mr. Fontenelle. Despite his gentleness, his carefulness, his philosophy, all of which should endear him to Mr. Voltaire, he is linked with the enemies of this great man, and appears to share, if not in their hate, at least in their preemptive censures.…