I don’t think I’ve ever seen an answer to this. How did Volo survive through the spellplague and second sundering? His first book was in 1356 and ToA is after 1486. Magic means protect him or is he about 150 years old? Covered in DEATH MASKS and Sage of Shadowdale trilogy. Short version: Volo was magically transformed (so, in stasis) AND Mystra vested some divine essence in him (as well as in Manshoon and various Chosen) to make sure she could rise again…and its presence helped protect Volo.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 7, 2018

A pleasure. Always happy to talk Realmslore!
BTW, Mirt the Moneylender and a bunch of other folks survived the century after the Spellplague hit as "blueflame ghost," trapped in a magic item. Some mages put themselves into similar enchanted items in hopes of surviving, too.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 7, 2018