Catau
Near the end of his life, when Voltaire was toying with the idea of paying Saint Catherine his personal respects, this appeared to be the last thing she wanted. Perhaps nervous about exposing her country or herself to Voltaire’s analytical eye, she wrote urgently to Grimm, “For God’s sake, try to persuade the octogenarian to stay at home. What should he do here? He would either die here or on the road from cold, weariness and bad roads. Tell him that Catau is best seen from a distance.”
Could anyone explain the meaning of 'catau' and why is in italics? Thanks.
Top answer
Saint Catherine herself is that Catau here.
- Saint Catherine herself is that Catau here.
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I am pretty sure that "Catau" is a nickname that Voltaire used for Catherine II. See this webpage:
https://networks.h-net.org/system/files/contributed-files/sirio044.pdf
Page 841, search for Catau: "Catau, la divine; surnom que Voltaire donnait à Catherine 11."
0iclearwaterthe meaning of 'catau'
It's somewhat like calling a woman named "Katherine" "Katy", but in French.
CJ
0Quote is from the Robert Maddie biography of Catherine (p. 336). Credit should have been given.
0
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