Candide

2022 Reprint of the 1918 Edition. Candide, first published in 1759, is Voltaire's classic tale of disillusionment and eventual reconciliation with the vagaries of life. It begins with a young man, Candide, who is living a sheltered life in an bucolic Edenic paradise and being indoctrinated with 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 Candide by advocating a deeply practical precept, "we must cultivate our garden", in lieu of the Leibnizian mantra of Pangloss, which is "all is for the best" in the "best of all possible worlds".

Contents: How Candide was raised in a noble mansion, and how he was driven -- What happened to Candide among the Bulgars -- How Candide saved himself from the Bulgars, and what became of him -- How Candide met his old philosophy teacher, Doctor Pangloss, and what had happened to him -- Tempest, shipwreck, earthquake, and what happened to Doctor Pangloss, Candide, and Jacques the Anabaptist -- How they had a beautiful auto-da-fé in order to put an end to the earthquake, and how Candide was flogged -- How an old woman took care of Candide and how he got back his beloved -- Cunégonde's story -- What happened to Cunégonde, to Candide, to the Grand Inquisitor, and to a Jew -- In what difficulty Candide, Cunégonde, and the old woman reached Cadiz, and how they boarded a ship -- The old woman's story -- More about the old woman's misfortunes -- How Candide was forced to leave lovely Cunégonde and the old woman -- How Candide and Cacambo were greeted by the Jesuits of Paraguay -- How Candide killed his dear Cunégonde's brother -- What happened to the two travelers with two girls, two monkeys, and the savages known as Oreillons -- Arrival of Candide and his valet in the land of Eldorado, and what they saw there -- What they saw in Eldorado -- How they got to Surinam, and how Candide came to know Martin -- What happened at sea to Candide and Martin -- Candide and Martin approach the French coast and argue -- What happened to Candide and Martin in France -- Candide and Martin reach the British coast, and what they see there -- Paquette and Friar Giroflée -- Visit to Lord Pococuranté, a nobleman of Venice -- A dinner that Candide and Martin shared with six foreigners, and who they were -- Candide's journey to Constantinople -- What happened to Candide, Cunégonde, Pangloss, Martin, etc. -- How Candide found Cunégonde and the old woman.