Candide by Voltaire (1759)

Name: Candide
Author: Voltaire

Candide is a satire written by Voltaire in 1759. It follows the adventures of the young Candide, who is living a sheltered life in the castle of the Baron of Thunder-ten-tronckh in Westphalia. He is taught by the philosopher Pangloss, who believes that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. When Candide is expelled from the castle, he embarks on a journey around the world, encountering a variety of characters and situations. He meets a variety of people, including a Jesuit, a dervish, and a Jewish merchant, and experiences a variety of disasters, including earthquakes, shipwrecks, and war. Through these experiences, Candide learns that life is not always as perfect as Pangloss had taught him. Eventually, Candide and his companions settle in the city of El Dorado, where they find a utopian society. After a few months, however, they decide to leave and return to Europe. Upon their return, Candide and his companions find that their fortunes have changed, and they are able to live happily ever after.

By Voltaire · First published 1759 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Adventure · 30 chapters · 32,396 words

First lines

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.

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Candide is listed on Textopian as a novel by Voltaire, dated 1759 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Voltaire
Date: 1759 CE
Language: English
Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Adventure, Romance
Length: 32,396 words
Structure: 30 chapters, 1,083 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Philosophical Fiction — Candide is a philosophical novel by Voltaire that follows the adventures of the young Candide as he attempts to reconcile optimism with reality.
Satire — Candide is a satirical novel that uses humor and irony to criticize the optimism of the Enlightenment and the Catholic Church.
Adventure — Candide follows the titular character on a series of adventures as he travels the world in search of his beloved Cunégonde.
Romance — Candide is a romantic novel that follows the love story between Candide and Cunégonde, and their attempts to reunite despite the obstacles in their way.