Zadig and Micromegas by Voltaire

'Zadig or Fate an Oriental Tale from the French of Voltaire' [1819], a hand-written version of the story (originally published in French in 1747); VIII + 154pp; bound together with 'Micromegas a comic Romance being a severe satire upon the Philosophy, Ignorance, and Self - conceit of Mankind - from the French of Voltaire [1819] (first published in 1752) 48pp. Beautifully bound in blue leather with gilt decorations and title; brown silk covered end papers. The bookplate of Charles Lowndes and Hugh Lowndes affixed to blank end paper. 'Zadig' is a novella and work of philosophical fiction by the Enlightenment writer Voltaire . It tells the story of Zadig, a Zoroastrian philosopher in ancient Babylonia . The protagonist's name is derived from the Hebrew term tzadik, a title bestowed in Judaism on a particularly righteous person ' though Voltaire's character is not presented as a Jew and does not exactly fit the criteria set in Jewish tradition for the use of the term. 'Micromegas' is an early example in the literary genre of science fiction . The tale recounts the visit to earth of a being from a planet circling the star Sirius, and of his companion from the planet Saturn . The technique of using an outsider to comment on aspects of Western culture was popular in this period; Voltaire also used it in Zadig .