HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Candide (Penguin Popular Classics) by…
Loading...

Candide (Penguin Popular Classics) (original 1759; edition 2001)

by Voltaire

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
20,464305214 (3.8)1 / 570
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Every lover of classic literature should read Candide, the satirical masterpiece that shocked Paris upon its publication in 1759. The novel challenges many of the core assertions of Enlightenment philosophy and calls into question vast swaths of Christian dogma. Though widely banned after its publication, it propelled Voltaire to literary stardom and remains one of the most popular French novels ever written.

.… (more)
Member:elliebong
Title:Candide (Penguin Popular Classics)
Authors:Voltaire
Info:Penguin Classics/Press (2001), Paperback, 112 pages
Collections:Your library, Fiction, Penguin Popular Classics
Rating:****
Tags:Fiction -- French translation into English

Work Information

Candide by Voltaire (1759)

  1. 71
    Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (Weasel524)
    Weasel524: What separates the two: Travels is a satirical indictment of the society Swift saw around him, whereas Candide is a satirical indictment of popular philosophical theories of the time. Not a huge difference, but surely large enough for some. Candide also happens to be shorter and funnier, with Travels being more explorative… (more)
  2. 40
    Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf (FFortuna)
    FFortuna: They have the same kind of wide-eyed satirical quality.
  3. 30
    Baltasar and Blimunda by José Saramago (Mouseear)
  4. 41
    Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (owen1218)
  5. 30
    Persian Letters by Montesquieu (jordantaylor)
  6. 30
    A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy by Laurence Sterne (AaronPt)
  7. 30
    The Satyricon by Petronius Arbiter (CGlanovsky)
    CGlanovsky: Hapless protagonists tossed by fate from one misadventure to another
  8. 20
    The Adventures of Mr. Nicholas Wisdom by Ignacy Krasicki (DieFledermaus)
  9. 20
    Rasselas by Samuel Johnson (KayCliff)
  10. 20
    Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice by James Branch Cabell (Crypto-Willobie)
  11. 21
    Island by Aldous Huxley (kxlly)
  12. 10
    The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (gennyt)
    gennyt: Both books contain extraordinary, unlikely picaresque adventures combined with humorous satire on the politics, wars and religious issues of their time.
  13. 33
    Utopia by Thomas More (kxlly)
  14. 01
    The Memoirs of Maria Brown by John Cleland (Anonymous user)
  15. 05
    The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (aprille)
Europe (28)
AP Lit (50)
1750s (1)
100 (44)
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

» See also 570 mentions

English (274)  French (7)  Italian (5)  Spanish (5)  Dutch (3)  Catalan (2)  Swedish (2)  Finnish (1)  Portuguese (Portugal) (1)  Arabic (1)  Portuguese (1)  Portuguese (Brazil) (1)  Icelandic (1)  Hebrew (1)  Tagalog (1)  All languages (306)
Showing 1-5 of 274 (next | show all)
What do you say about one of the most famous satires of the western cannon written in 1759 by French philosopher Voltaire?

It’s biting political and religious satire featuring our friend, Candide, a naïve young man trying to make sense of the world while living through a series of misadventures after he is ejected from his very pleasant youthful life .

He has been taught by his tutor, Professor Pangloss, that everything works out for the best and that we live in the best of all worlds; that everything has evolved to precisely this point of perfection because of the perfection that went before. For example one of Pangloss’s assertions is that eyeglasses being the shape they are shows the perfection of the shape of the nose.

I’ve never been a great fan of comedy by absurdity, but what really struck me is that many of our institutions such as the church, ruling countries, armies and our ideas of paradise haven’t come that far in the almost 300 years since this was written.
  streamsong | Mar 22, 2024 |
Juvenal once said, "It is difficult not to write satire", meaning that even if he put ink to paper with different intentions, his worldview would press him on in one direction. He and Voltaire would have got along famously, I suspect. ( )
  therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
Talk about witticism and humor. The latter, rather subjective, mixes well on the former, thus forming a wondrous work called satire.

From the most stretched, overly-exaggerated scenarios and happenings, Candide, the open-minded philosopher, greatly influenced by his revered adviser Pangloss, who thinks that 'all is for the best', which happens to be the same title of the novel, are both comical at most. The story revolves on his topsy-turvy experiences, his dubious ponderings on the truth, and his eventual disagreement to his great teacher.

This book, which is considered a classic, is perhaps not a classic since it's creation. Voltaire probably doubt that this would be one of the most profound and critically-acclaimed work in the history of literature. It is not probably in the league within the profound works of Homer, Virgil, Cicero, and the greatly-jeered Milton, which the book greatly mocks its pretentious quality, this book surmounts the greatness of content through the use of wit and satire.

This fast-paced satire is easy, concise, and greatly entertaining. Every chapter is a new adventure, and there are underlying comments regarding the real-world problems and perhaps analogous content, but it is the sole purpose of making such a satirical literature. ( )
  qwteb | Sep 25, 2023 |
9/10
To give a brief introduction, Leibniz was an Enlightenment-era philosopher whose mantra could be simplified to ‘This is the best of all possible worlds.’ Now, anyone who has stepped outside the bounds of their homes knows that this is not the case. Another philosopher of the same era, Voltaire, seemed to be infuriated with it – Candide was written to attack Leibnizian optimism and ridiculed government, military, religion, money, and the concept of honour itself.
When things seem to be getting better, Candide jumps to an entirely new plotline which makes you lose hope. That, to me, is Voltaire’s genius. He leaves no holds barred in his unrelenting attack on optimism, so much so that each person takes for granted the horrors of our existence, even when confronted with it first-hand. Cunégonde’s caretaker narrates the act of her buttocks being eaten by slavers for survival with an astounding lack of interest in the matter. Candide, the eponymous character, undergoes almost every calamity possible – ranging from being thrown out from his residence to nearly being hanged and even narrowly escaping from cannibals. There are dozens of such tales scattered across the text, and at some point, I just started laughing at Voltaire’s ‘show, don’t tell’ philosophy – this novella might be the best example of the phrase I’ve ever seen.
Although abrupt, the ending felt perfect – primarily because of what it took for Candide to realise that we cannot always view the world through rose-tinted glasses – it helps to have a sense of realism, however tiny. Philosophy apart, Candide is a beautiful read, and it deserves its place in the Western canon. ( )
  SidKhanooja | Sep 1, 2023 |
An incisive satire. There are horrific and fantastical sections but often a modern parallel comes to mind making this work as relevant today as when it was published in 1759. I have to admit I was more impressed the first time I read it about 50 years ago. ( )
  VivienneR | Aug 17, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 274 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (145 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Voltaireprimary authorall editionscalculated
Adams, Robert MartinEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Aldington, RichardTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Berthelius, MarieTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bianconi, PieroTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Blaine, MahlonIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Blake, QuentinIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Block, Haskell M.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Butt, J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Butt, John EverettTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Calvino, ItaloIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Clavé, AntoniIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Cuffe, TheoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ellissen, AdolfTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fultz, W. J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gargantini, StellaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gauffin, HansCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gay, PeterTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gordon, DanielEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Havens, George R.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hermlin, StephanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Joseph, SydneyIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kent, RockwellIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Klee, PaulIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lehmann, IlseTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
May, GitaIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mayer, HansAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Morand, PaulIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Morley, HenryTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nordberg, OlofTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nordin, SvanteAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Odle, AlanIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pearson, RogerTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Prechtl, Michael MathiasIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Premsela, Martin J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
René, PomeauEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rider, W.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sauvage, SylvainIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Smollett, TobiasTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sprengel, DavidTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Torrey, Norman L.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ware, ChrisCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Weller, ShaneTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wood, MichaelIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

Is contained in

Has the adaptation

Is abridged in

Is parodied in

Is a reply to

Inspired

Has as a student's study guide

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Voltaire was the wittiest writeer in an age of great wits, and "Candide" is his wittiest novel. The subject he chose to exercise his wit upon in this novel is one which conceerns all of us; surprisingly enough, that subject is the problem of suffering. However much we may try to avoid the problem, we are all confronted at some time with this difficulty, that the Creator has made a universe where suffering abounds. If the Creator is good and all-powerful, as we are told he is, could he not have made a better world? If he could, what prevented him? If he could not, can we still believe that he is good and all-powerful? Can we indeed believe in him at all? Or if we do, can we believe that he is at all concerned with men and their sufferings? In times of widespread disasters such questioning becomes more general and more urgent. We are living in such times; and so was Voltaire. [Butt's introduction]
There lived in Westphalia, at the country seat of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, a young lad blessed by Nature with the most agreeable manners. You could read his character in his face. He combined sound judgment with unaffected simplicity; and that, I suppose, was why he was called Candide. The old family servants suspected that he was the son of the Baron's sisteer by a worthy gentleman of that neighbourhood, whom the young lady would never agree to marry because he could only claim seventy-one quarterings, the rest of his family tree having suffered from the ravages of time. [Butt's translation]
In the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh in Westphalia there lived a youth, endowed by Nature with the most gentle character.
[Bair translation]
In the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh in Wesphalia, there once lived a youth endowed by nature with the gentlest of characters.
Quotations
"Fools admire everything in a celebrated author. I only read to please myself, and I only like what suits me."
"'Tis well said," replied Candide, "but we must cultivate our gardens."
“Why should you think it so strange that in some countries there are monkeys which insinuate themselves into the good graces of the ladies; they are a fourth part human, as I am a fourth part Spaniard.”
His choice fell, in the end, on a poor scholar who'd spent ten years working in the bookshops of Amsterdam. It was Candide's opinion that there was no more disgusting trade in the world, so this man had to be the most discontented of all.
Regarding the writings of Cicero:
I'd have been more comfortable with his philosophical writing, but I realized he doubted everything and I decided I knew just as much as he did, and in order to be ignorant I didn't need an body's help.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Please don't combine editions which are just Candide eg Penguin Classics with editions which contain Candide with other works by Voltaire, eg Oxford World Classics Candide and other stories.
Publisher's editors
Information from the Hungarian Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Every lover of classic literature should read Candide, the satirical masterpiece that shocked Paris upon its publication in 1759. The novel challenges many of the core assertions of Enlightenment philosophy and calls into question vast swaths of Christian dogma. Though widely banned after its publication, it propelled Voltaire to literary stardom and remains one of the most popular French novels ever written.

.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Attraverso la parabola del povero Candido, un inguaribile ottimista, il narratore continua a "portare uno sguardo rapido su tutti i secoli, tutti i paesi, e di conseguenza, su tutte le sciocchezze di questo piccolo globo". Pubblicato a Ginevra nel 1759, e immediatamente ristampato a Parigi, Londra, Amsterdam e altre città d'Europa, Candido consente a Voltaire di perfezionare il nuovo genere letterario da lui creato, il conte philosophique. Le convulse e mirabolanti disavventure del protagonista offrono all'autore l'opportunità di dimostrare la vanità dell'ottimismo razionalista leibniziano, che vedeva realizzato nell'universo il migliore dei mondi possibili, nonché di sviluppare una straordinaria lezione di sopravvivenza alle catastrofi della natura e della storia.
(piopas)
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.8)
0.5 5
1 66
1.5 15
2 275
2.5 40
3 949
3.5 218
4 1395
4.5 138
5 1037

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Penguin Australia

2 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia.

Editions: 0143039423, 0140455108

Yale University Press

2 editions of this book were published by Yale University Press.

Editions: 0300106556, 0300119879

Tantor Media

2 editions of this book were published by Tantor Media.

Editions: 1400100445, 1400111080

Recorded Books

An edition of this book was published by Recorded Books.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,222,660 books! | Top bar: Always visible