Candide by Voltaire

or Optimism

"Candide" is a satirical novel that follows the adventures of a young man, Candide, who is living a sheltered life in an Edenic paradise and being indoctrinated with Leibnizian optimism by his mentor. When he is expelled from the paradise for kissing a baron's daughter, he embarks on a journey around the world, witnessing the horrors of war, natural disasters, and human cruelty. Throughout his journey, Candide maintains his optimistic philosophy, despite the constant hardships he faces, ultimately concluding that one must cultivate their own garden, a metaphor for taking control of one's own destiny.

The 80th greatest book of all time


Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
Published
1759
Nationality
French
Length
Short
Pages
100-200
Original Language
French
Avg User Rating
(3.8)
Alternate Titles
- Candide Oder Der Optimismus
- Candide Of Het Optimisme
- Candide of het optimisme
- Candide, or All for the Best
- Candide, or Optimism

If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here

This book is on the following 44 lists: