Voltaire's 1759 French satire follows the relentlessly optimistic Candide through a series of increasingly absurd misfortunes that challenge his tutor's philosophy that "all is for the best." This biting work of fiction uses dark humor to critique both blind optimism and the social institutions of 18th-century Europe. Translated by Philip Littell.
In a castle of Westphalia, belonging to the Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh, lived a youth, whom nature had endowed with the most gentle manners. His countenance was a true picture of his soul. He combined a true judgment with simplicity of spirit, which was the reason, I apprehend, of his being called Candide. The old servants of the family suspected him to have been the son of the Baron's sister, by a good, honest gentleman of the neighborhood, whom that young lady would never marry because he had been able to prove only seventy-one quarterings, the rest of his genealogical tree having been lost through the injuries of time. The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate, but windows. His great hall, even, was hung with tapestry. All the dogs of his farm-yards formed a pack of hounds at need; his grooms were his huntsmen; and the curate of t…Continue reading →
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A brilliant French philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment era (1694-1778), this satirical genius championed reason, religious tolerance, and free speech through works like "Candide." His sharp wit and fearless criticism of authority helped shape modern democratic ideals and influenced the American and French revolutions. All works by Voltaire →
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