François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire:
L’Ingénu
The Child of Nature
(This has also been translated as ‘The Innocent’ and ‘The Huron.’)
(1767)


A Huron Indian visits 17th-century France and finds that Huron ways are rather more civilised than those of the French.

The reverse anthropology allows Voltaire to satirize his usual targets with his usual wit.


Extracted from Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire: A Contemporary Version. Volume: 3.
Translated by William F. Fleming.
Publisher: E. R. DuMont. Place of Publication: Paris. Publication Year: 1901

I have revised the translation, translating and restoring some missing passages.