The Provincial Letters

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Set against the backdrop of the Jansenist-Jesuit controversy, this series of eighteen letters by Blaise Pascal defends his friend Antoine Arnauld and critiques Jesuit moral laxity through humor and satire. Written in a witty, polished style, the letters cleverly disguise their theological debates as correspondence between a Parisian and a provincial friend. Despite facing condemnation from the church, these letters gained popularity for their literary merit and influenced future writers. Ultimately, they sparked significant theological discussions, leading to a revision of church teachings.