Candide

Plot

Voltaire's shocking wit and biting portrayal of the eighteenth century church and aristocracy are now showcased in a new translation of Candide, a bestseller in its time and essential reading for a deeper understanding of Voltaire and Enlightenment thought. Preserving the text's provocative nature as well as its accuracy, Daniel Gordon has paid special attention to improving not only the rendering of particular words, but to Voltaire's semantic overtones by amplifying the book's innuendo, enhancing Candide's readability and ensuring that readers will not miss bold features of the story. The introduction places Candide and Voltaire in their historical context, relating the complexities of Voltaire's life to the events, philosophy, and characters of Candide, showing precisely why the Enlightenment is known as the Age of Voltaire.