Helpful Score: 2
Interesting book about discovery in different states of mind.
Helpful Score: 1
A classic! Good, quick read.
Cassandra T. (dreamweaver2040) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A satirical masterpiece from the master himself: Voltaire. Candide is blown by the winds of fortune every which way, but manages to remain convinced that no matter how inhuman the violence, no matter how senseless the suffering, all things continue to work out for the best.
Nicole W. (strawberrymudd) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
In Candide, Voltaire whisks his young hero and friends through a ludicrous variety of tortures, tragedies and reversals of fortune, in teh company of Pangloss, a 'metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigologist' of unfliching optimism. The result is one of the glories of eighteenth century satire.
Dennis P. (sebastiantombs) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 123 more book reviews
2 tapes, 3 hrs. Read by Michael York. English translation, of course. A classic satire that really is a philosophical treatise.
Sarah R. (brianslittlegirl) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 49 more book reviews
Political satire doesn't age well, but occasionally a diatribe contains enough art and universal mirth to survive long after its timeliness has passed. Candide is such a book. Penned by that Renaissance man of the Enlightenment, Voltaire, Candide is steeped in the political and philosophical controversies of the 1750s. But for the general reader, the novel's driving principle is clear enough: the idea (endemic in Voltaire's day) that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and apparent folly, misery and strife are actually harbingers of a greater good we cannot perceive, is hogwash.
Telling the tale of the good-natured but star-crossed Candide (think Mr. Magoo armed with deadly force), as he travels the world struggling to be reunited with his love, Lady Cunegonde, the novel smashes such ill-conceived optimism to splinters. Candide's tutor, Dr. Pangloss, is steadfast in his philosophical good cheer, in the face of more and more fantastic misfortune; Candide's other companions always supply good sense in the nick of time. Still, as he demolishes optimism, Voltaire pays tribute to human resilience, and in doing so gives the book a pleasant indomitability common to farce. Says one character, a princess turned one-buttocked hag by unkind Fate: "I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our most melancholy propensities; for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one's very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?"--Michael Gerber
I REALLY enjoyed this book! The translation is great, and the pictures are just fantastic. I greatly recommend it. :)
Telling the tale of the good-natured but star-crossed Candide (think Mr. Magoo armed with deadly force), as he travels the world struggling to be reunited with his love, Lady Cunegonde, the novel smashes such ill-conceived optimism to splinters. Candide's tutor, Dr. Pangloss, is steadfast in his philosophical good cheer, in the face of more and more fantastic misfortune; Candide's other companions always supply good sense in the nick of time. Still, as he demolishes optimism, Voltaire pays tribute to human resilience, and in doing so gives the book a pleasant indomitability common to farce. Says one character, a princess turned one-buttocked hag by unkind Fate: "I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our most melancholy propensities; for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one's very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?"--Michael Gerber
I REALLY enjoyed this book! The translation is great, and the pictures are just fantastic. I greatly recommend it. :)
A classic, in original French
Rating: 4.5/5
This book comes with footnotes and endnotes to provide context for some of the popular and cultural references in Voltaire's time. This is a fantastic satire of the philosophy of optimism. Although not a popular movement these days, it is still easy to appreciate the mental lashing he gives to followers of optimism.
The story is a frenetic rush from one crazy encounter to the next, with ill-fortune and dispair always growing along the journey. The morale of the story is that everyone is doomed to a miserable existence, but it's a fun read, I swear!
This book comes with footnotes and endnotes to provide context for some of the popular and cultural references in Voltaire's time. This is a fantastic satire of the philosophy of optimism. Although not a popular movement these days, it is still easy to appreciate the mental lashing he gives to followers of optimism.
The story is a frenetic rush from one crazy encounter to the next, with ill-fortune and dispair always growing along the journey. The morale of the story is that everyone is doomed to a miserable existence, but it's a fun read, I swear!
Weird, at times gross, also real crazy. Really good though.
Kristin M. (MissKristin66) - , reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 80 more book reviews
This translation from the fench can be a little stodgy, but if you keep with it, it's actually a great read.
Christine O. (crissyreader) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 275 more book reviews
"In Candide (Voltaire) whisks his young hero and friends through a ludicrous variety of tortures, tragedies and reversals of fortunes, in the company of Pangloss, a 'metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-niologist' of unflinching opinion. The result is one of the glories of eighteenth-century satire."
AnnA H. (stormchaserblue) reviewed Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics) on + 43 more book reviews
Candide, ou l'Optimisme is a French satire, written by Voltaire in 1759. Frequently described as face paced the book begins with a young man, Candide, living in the castle of Barons Thunder-ten-tronckh being taught by Pangloss, a philosopher who believed in Optimism. The book follows the tale of Candides expulsion from this life and his suffering of the hardships of this world. Candide loses his mentor and pickes up another, Martin, who is a pessimist the two men argue about philosophy.
The book bases events on real historical happenings, the Sevens Years war, the Portuguses Inquisition, and the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. This book did cause quite a stir when first published it was banned because of the religious blasphemy and political sedition, in this the best of all possible of worlds. This book is closely related to Swifts Gullivers travels, published 1726.
Voltaire concludes with Candide, if not outright rejecting optimism, advocating an enigmatic rule, "we must cultivate our garden", in lieu of the Leibnizian mantra of Pangloss, "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds".
The book bases events on real historical happenings, the Sevens Years war, the Portuguses Inquisition, and the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. This book did cause quite a stir when first published it was banned because of the religious blasphemy and political sedition, in this the best of all possible of worlds. This book is closely related to Swifts Gullivers travels, published 1726.
Voltaire concludes with Candide, if not outright rejecting optimism, advocating an enigmatic rule, "we must cultivate our garden", in lieu of the Leibnizian mantra of Pangloss, "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds".
I've never enjoyed satire more than I did while reading Candide.
Funny, ironic satire. If you enjoy subtle, self-deprecating humor, you will love this classic!
Might be on your college/ high school reading list!
Caustic and hilarious, Candide has ranked as one of the world's great satires since its first publication in 1759. It concerns the adventures of the youthful Candide, disciple of Leibniz.
The book helps give you a different perspective of the world and of life. It shows you an evil world from a simpletons point of view who was raised by an optimist. It's the inspiration for Forrest Gump.
This Norton Critical Edition includes not only the text of this famous work but essays of criticism as well.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
This is a witty, satirical tale about the philosophical optimism that proclaims that all disaster and human suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Candide travels around the world to discover that contrary to the teachings of Dr. Pangloss, all is not always the best. I enjoyed it very much and found Voltaire's wit to be funny and intellectually enlightening.
Love it.
Had the book for years and have never read it!
