French author exploded to Ravel about one (8)
I believe the answer is:
voltaire
'french author' is the definition.
(French author, 1694-1778)
'exploded to ravel about one' is the wordplay.
'exploded' indicates an anagram.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'to'+'ravel'='toravel'
'toravel' is an anagram of 'voltare'.
'voltare' enclosing 'i' is 'VOLTAIRE'.
(Other definitions for voltaire that I've seen before include "polemical writer" , "French writer (Candide)" , "Candide satirist" , "French writer/philosopher" , "French satirist" .)