In his 84 years, Voltaire was a historian and essayist, playwright and storyteller, poet and philosopher, wit and pamphleteer, wealthy businessman, and practical economic reformer. Yet, he is best remembered as an advocate of human rights. True to the spirit of the Enlightenment, he denounced organized religion and established himself as a proponent of rationality.
Voltaire is one of the greatest French authors and philosophers of the 18th century. Only a few of his works are still read today, most notably his "Candide", a strongly anti-romantic comic novel. 'Candide', the strongly anti-Romantic comic novel, is the work by Voltaire most read today. His other writings include 'Zadig' (1747), 'The Century of Louis XIV' (1751), 'Micromegas' (1752), 'The Russian Empire under Peter the Great' (1759-63), 'The Philosophical Dictionary' (1764), and 'Essay on Morals' (1756).
He is known worldwide as a supporter against tyranny, bigotry, and cruelty. His is a singular wit, that mastered the satirical genre of his age. He vigorously propagated an ideal of progress to which men of all nations have remained responsive. Voltaire is such a revered person that there is a foundation dedicated to his life and works. Websites of all types honor this man.
Voltaire Society of America
For those who speak only English, you might want to check out the Voltaire Society of America, where you can view accounts of visits with Voltaire at Ferney by others of significant note.
The Voltaire Foundation
To learn a little about the man you can check out this brief biography of Voltaire at the Voltaire Foundation website.
Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary
The Hanover Historical Texts Project at Hanover University provides Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. This particular page is the table of contents. (English translation)
Voltaire's Books at Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg has several downloadable books written by Voltaire. A good resource for homeschoolers and researchers.