Candide (Dover Thrift Editions)

I actually read this book thanks to a recommendation from Kurt Vonnegut (via "For the Love of Books"). Candide was almost like Siddartha meets Shangri La. During Candide's worldwide adventure seeking his one true love, he is regaled by the disturbing tales of many world-weary travelers and troubled by his own unfortunate circumstances. Thus, Candide's original philosophical views are challenged. When the adventures end and the characters are reunited in a sort of melancholy, the most simple outlook on life allows them to be the most content. Voltaire packs a punch in under 100 pages with a fast-paced satire-laden adventure that maintains its relevance 250 years after it was written.

this is a terrible translation of a wonderful book. the original in french is a lively and funny book but this practically word for word translation makes the flowing writing in french look chunky and outdated in english. don't bother reading this version find another translation.

Okay; So Candide's biography of a 20 something manages to address the breadth of Humanistic concerns that we all think about, i.e., The Meaning Of Life, Morals, Religion, Character, Fate, Destiny, Etc... And yet, I still feel empty handed having read it. Outside of it's mediocre "entertainment value" of story telling, the take away was (and is) weak. His Great Pearl and Coveted Gem at the end? (which no reviewer wants to reveal, but I will here...), Is This: Voltaire says: "If you work hard and are honest Everyday, you will AVOID Unhappiness..." What?!!! BFD! R U KIdding Me??? AND I care NEVER to hear the protagonist's names REPEATED, ad nauseum, over AND OVER AND OVERRRRR AGAIN!!!! The names "CUNEGUNDE" and "CACAMBO"!!!!!! They were mentioned HUNDREDS of times! (I.E./"My Dear Sweet Cunegude," Or "MY Loyal Cacambo"- WE GET IT VOLTAIRE! ENough). >Poor Form<. Ubiquitous and trite already!

I was hoping to be "Enlightened" after all the hype... I felt more like I was patronizing a Classic book just because of it's street credit. I discovered it was a fantastic chore delight to finish Candide... Nothing New here... NEXT! So, Voltaire is not telling me something I don't AlREADY Know??? My time is more valuable than that!

~Jay-Zackal.

~The Jackal.

At a time that followed witch hunts and religious persecution, Voltaire wrote Candid as a scream in the face of church's authority and nobility's arrogance.

Candid is a simple Pollyannaish young man who mirrored all the views of his tutor Pangloss, who has the optimistic belief that this world is "the best of all possible worlds", and despite all the misfortune he endures he remains faithful to his optimism. Pangloss obviously is an exaggerated character, who symbolizes the overly optimistic Enlightenment philosophy.
When Candid is expelled from his adopted childhood home, he starts a journey around the world pursuing peace and looking for the love of his life, Cunegonde. During the journey, Candid encounters many different characters, who have symbolic importance, like the baron who has homosexual tendencies, Cacambo; Candid's close friend, whose practicality opposes any philosophy, the Grand Inquisitor, whose hypocrisy points clearly to religious leaders, and Martin, the cynical scholar, who is blinded by his pessimism.

The long journey was a series of chaotic incidents that bring to the forefront significant controversial topics, like the uselessness of philosophical speculation, hypocrisy of religions, political and religious oppression, and resurrection.

In Candid, Voltaire, artistically displays his objections to the school of optimism that argues rational thought restricts evil committed by human beings. Voltaire also criticizes the philosophy of enlightenment that couldn't stop the fear and chaos caused by religious persecution. He ends the novel by presenting us with an unexpected gift, his philosophical meaning of life.

Candid is simply a great work, worth the time.

Holy crap - we get it already - you dislike Leibniz.

I can appreciate satire - I love satire. But Candide is essentially a collection of horrific happenings each told as a separate joke ending in the exact same punch-line each time: "blah, blah, blah - but I guess it can't be so bad since this is the greatest of all possible worlds."

This is really satire at its lowest point. I give it two stars only because the book is a classic (albeit undeserving of the title). I've never been so relieved to be done with a book as when I finished this one.