7

In 1750-1751 Laurent Angliviel de La Beaumelle tried to interest Voltaire in his project to compile a list of the “French classics” as part of an editorial and educational project. Relations between the two writers quickly soured. Initially, however, Voltaire reacted to his younger colleague’s letters with courtesy. This article examines a hitherto unpublished manuscript of the “List” in La Beaumelle’s hand, annotated by Voltaire and subsequently returned to the author. The resulting analysis shows the extent to which La Beaumelle followed the advice of his interlocutor and situates Voltaire’s brief notes in the wider context of his published writings on French literature.