Candide

The French satire Candide, or l'Optimisme was first published in 1759 by Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Numerous translations of the novella exist today. The English titles of these translations are Candide: or, All for the Best, Candide: or, The Optimist, and Candide: Optimism. In Candide, a gentle man clings tenaciously to the idea that his life is "the best of all possible worlds" despite being battered and slapped by fate from all sides. This eighteenth-century classic, which initially appears to be a funny, bantering story, is actually a vicious, satiric jab at the philosophical optimism that argues all tragedy and human misery is a result of a kind cosmic plan. The timeless story of Candide by the French philosopher is quick, humorous, and frequently provocative.