Candide 0486266893

Witty and caustic, Candide has ranked as one of the world’s great satires since its first publication in 1759. In the story of the trials and travails of the youthful Candide, his mentor Dr. Pangloss, and a host of other characters, Voltaire mercilessly satirizes and exposes romance, science, philosophy, religion and government—the ideas and institutions men live by. Review Satirical novel published in 1759 that is the best-knownwork by Voltaire. It is a savage denunciation of metaphysicaloptimism--as espoused by the German philosopher Gottfried WilhelmLeibniz--that reveals a world of horrors and folly.In thisphilosophical fantasy, naive Candide sees and suffers such misfortunethat he ultimately rejects the philosophy of his tutor DoctorPangloss, who claims that "all is for the best in this best of allpossible worlds." Candide and his companions--Pangloss, his belovedCunegonde, and his servant Cacambo--display an instinct for survivalthat provides them hope in an otherwise somber setting. When they allretire together to a simple life on a small farm, they discover thatthe secret of happiness is "to cultivate one's garden," a practicalphilosophy that excludes excessive idealism and nebulous metaphysics. -- The Merriam-Webster Encylopedia of Literature