description: Candide is the story of a gentle man who, though pummeled and slapped in every direction by fate, clings desperately to the belief that he lives in "the best of all possible worlds." On the surface a witty, bantering tale, this eighteenth-century classic is actually a savage, satiric thrust at the philosophical optimism that proclaims that all disaster and human suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Fast, funny, often outrageous, the French philosopher's immortal narrative takes Candide around the world to discover that -- contrary to the teachings of his distinguished tutor Dr. Pangloss -- all is not always for the best. Alive with wit, brilliance, and graceful storytelling, Candide has become Voltaire's most celebrated work.
language: French
title: Candide ou L'Optimisme
titlecomplete: Candide ou L'Optimisme
characters: Dr. Pangloss, Cunegonde, Pangloss, Candide (Voltaire)
genres: Fiction, Humor, French Literature, Classics, France, 18th Century, Philosophy, Literature, Novels, School
ratings_count: 267676
places: Constantinople, England, Portugal, Lisbon, Istanbul, Suriname, Transylvania, Netherlands, Argentina, Paraguay, Germany, Buenos Aires, Romania, Turkey
publisher: French & European Pubns