CandideCandide 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 distringuished 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. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 15 | |
How a fine autodafé was performed to prevent | 28 |
Further misfortunes of the old woman | 41 |
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Common terms and phrases
abbé Anabaptist Andalusian horses asked Candide auto-da-fé Avars baron baroness beautiful Brother Giroflée brought Buenos Aires Bulgars Cacambo Candide and Cacambo Candide and Martin Candide's carnival castle CHAPTER Charles Dickens Constantinople cried Candide Cunegonde's D. H. Lawrence dear Pangloss diamonds Don Issachar Eldorado everything eyes fair Cunegonde Ferney flogged France French Fyodor Dostoevsky galley gave girls hanged happened to Candide heart heaven Hermann Hesse honor hundred Inquisitor Jane Austen Jesuit killed King Lady Cunegonde Levantine captain Madam marquise master misfortunes monk moral never old woman Oreillons palace Pangloss Paquette Paris philosopher pleasure Pococurante replied Candide Reverend Father scoundrel seen servant sheep ship sister slave soon spoke story supper Surinam tears tell there's things thirty thousand Thomas Hardy thousand piasters Thunder-ten-tronckh told took twenty valet Venice Voltaire Voltaire's Westphalia young