frederick-the-great:

Sometimes I marvel at Historical work.

I was reading on Voltaire when I came across this:

Most scholars believe Mme Denis probably became Voltaire’s mistress towards the end of 1745 or early in 1746;

I mean can you think of something more important than this? The mere thought of scenario where there’s an argument about this subject. Imagine a conference in Oxford or Bristol or Warwick where 18th century Enlightenment historians with published works on the immortality of the soul in French Thought or the cultural History of Paris spent two hours out of a seminar trying to figure out when did Voltaire first slept with his niece. And then! passionate arguments about the dates. The months, the days and the place.