The Chevalier's Memoir (Entry #19) Comparing a lecture and a passage: Although we know that not every detail in a memoir can be accurate, the Chevalier's memoir still contains many reliable historical sources. The critics are skeptical about the accuracy of the events and conversations recorded in this memoir, but none of their doubts are in fact, based on true evidence. At first, the critics claim doubt about the financial status of the Chevalier. In his memoir, he indicates that he has spent a great deal of money on parties and gambling, however there are evidence that he had at times borrowed large sums of money from a Swiss merchant. The lecture pinpoints that getting a loan will not necessarily imply that the Chevalier was poor. He indeed possessed many assets and sometimes, to convert them into actual money was not immediately feasible, therefore he had to ask for money from different resources until he was able to use his own. Next, it is not arguable that the Chevalier met and conversed with the famous writer Voltaire. The Chevalier states that each night, after their conversations, he used to write down everything and kept his notes for many years, until he could refer to them in order to write his memoir years later. There are also many witnesses who have confirmed the existence of such notes. Finally, on the event of the Chevalier's escape from a prison in Venice, the critics think it was easier for him to use bribery to get out of there, and lying about such a daring escape was in fact, a good way to make the memoir sound more exciting and enjoyable. However, after escape, the ceiling of that cell needed to be repaired. What other reasons to repair a ceiling but because it has been broken for escape. Also a lot of other prisoners with more connections and chances for bribery could not free themselves, yet alone the Chevalier. + Thanks in advance for the corrections :)