Thumbing through the first volumes of the big new encyclopedia one evening at the Trianon, France's King Louis XV showed frank bewilderment. His ministers had told him that the work was subversive, and the King had duly ordered its confiscation. Butas Voltaire tells the storythe King read all about the rights of the crown and promptly began to question his own decision. "Upon my word," cried His Majesty to Madame de Pompadour, "I can't tell why they spoke so ill of this book."
There was plenty of reason for the King's ministers to speak...
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