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Candide

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Candide, ou l'Optimisme, (; French: [kɑ̃did]) is a French satire first published in 1759 by Voltaire, a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment. The novella has been widely translated, with English versions titled Candide: or, All for the Best (1759); Candide: or, The Optimist (1762); and Candide: Optimism (1947). It begins with a young man, Candide, who is living a sheltered life in an Edenic paradise and being indoctrinated with Leibnizian optimism by his mentor, Professor Pangloss. The work describes the abrupt cessation of this lifestyle, followed by Candide's slow and painful disillusionment as he witnesses and experiences great hardships in the world. Voltaire concludes with Candide, if not rejecting Leibnizian optimism outright, advocating a deeply practical precept, "we must cultivate our garden", in lieu of the Leibnizian mantra of Pangloss, "all is for the best" in the "best of all possible worlds". Candide is characterized by its tone as well as by its erratic, fantastical, and fast-moving plot. A picaresque novel with a story similar to that of a more serious coming-of-age narrative (Bildungsroman), it parodies many adventure and romance clichés, the struggles of which are caricatured in a tone that is bitter and matter-of-fact. Still, the events discussed are often based on historical happenings, such as the Seven Years' War and the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. As philosophers of Voltaire's day contended with the problem of evil, so does Candide in this short novel, albeit more directly and humorously. Voltaire ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies, and philosophers. Through Candide, he assaults Leibniz and his optimism. As predicted by Voltaire Candide has enjoyed both great success and great scandal. Immediately after its secretive publication, the book was widely banned to the public because it contained religious blasphemy, political sedition, and intellectual hostility hidden under a thin veil of naïveté. However, with its sharp wit and insightful portrayal of the human condition, the novel has since inspired many later authors and artists to mimic and adapt it. Today, Candide is recognized as Voltaire's magnum opus and is often listed as part of the Western canon. It is among the most frequently taught works of French literature. The British poet and literary critic Martin Seymour-Smith listed Candide as one of the 100 most influential books ever written. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Candide ou l'optimisme is a translation of this work.

Candide is a translation of this work.

Candide is a translation of this work.

Candido o l'ottimismo is a translation of this work.

Candid oder die beste der Welten is a translation of this work.

Candide of Het optimisme is a translation of this work.

Candido, O El Optimismo is a translation of this work.

Cāndid o l'optimisme is a translation of this work.

Candide is a translation of this work.

Candide eller Optimismen is a translation of this work.

Cândido is a translation of this work.

Candide is a translation of this work.

Candide neboli optimismus is a translation of this work.

Kandyd is a translation of this work.

Kandid, ya da iyimserlik is a translation of this work.

Candide vagy Az optimizmus is a translation of this work.

Kandid ali Optimizem is a translation of this work.

Cándido ou O optimismo is a translation of this work.

Candid sau optimismul ; Dialoguri şi anecdote filozofice is a translation of this work.

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Keywords

  • Candide
  • Civilization
  • Classic Literature
  • Conduct of life
  • Continental european fiction (fictional works by one author)
  • Early works to 1800
  • Enlightenment
  • Ethics
  • Fiction
  • Fiction, general
  • French Authors
  • French fiction
  • French language
  • French language materials
  • French literature
  • French Satire
  • GITenberg
  • Histoire
  • History
  • Imaginary letters
  • life
  • Lifestyles
  • Literatura Francesa
  • Literature
  • Marie Arouet de, 1694-1778. Candide ou l'Optimiste
  • Modern Philosophy
  • Moral conditions
  • Open Library Staff Picks
  • open_syllabus_project
  • Operas
  • Optimism
  • Optimism -- Fiction
  • Personal conduct
  • Philosophy
  • Politics and government
  • PQ
  • Readers
  • Satire
  • Translations into Chinese
  • Translations into English
  • Voltaire, 1694-1778
  • Voltaire, François
  • Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de, 1694-1778

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