Project Gutenberg
2003-11-01
Public domain in the USA.
947
Voltaire
1694
1778
Arouet, François Marie
Arouet, Francois Marie
Candide, ou l'optimisme
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide
Carlo Traverso
"Candide, ou l'optimisme" by Voltaire is a classic philosophical novel written during the mid-18th century, specifically in the Enlightenment period. The narrative follows Candide, a young man raised in the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, who undergoes a series of tumultuous adventures that challenge the philosophy of optimism espoused by his mentor, Pangloss. Throughout his journey, Candide encounters various hardships and absurdities that critique the notion that "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds." The opening of the novel introduces Candide as a good-natured youth living a sheltered life in the idyllic castle, where he is educated by Pangloss, who teaches him that everything is predetermined to be for the best. Candide's naive belief in Pangloss's optimistic philosophy is shattered when he is expelled from the castle after being caught in a romantic encounter with Cunégonde, the baron's daughter. This expulsion leads to a series of misadventures where Candide experiences the harsh realities of war, poverty, and the cruelty of mankind, all while questioning the validity of Pangloss's teachings. The beginning sets the stage for Candide's quest for understanding and happiness in a world rife with suffering and injustice. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 74.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
fr
Satire
Optimism -- Fiction
PQ
Text
FR Littérature
Category: Novels
Category: Classics of Literature
Category: French Literature
Category: Philosophy & Ethics
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