Voltaire English letters discovered by Oxford academic

19 January 2012 Last updated at 22:47 ET
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent

An Oxford academic has uncovered letters by Voltaire which reveal how much this icon of French writing profited financially and intellectually from a stay in England.

They include a signed acceptance from the 18th Century writer for a £200 grant from the Royal Family.

The writer abandoned the French spelling of his first name, Francois, styling himself "Francis".

Professor Nicholas Cronk says Voltaire was "hugely opportunistic".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16620254

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