Candide is the story of a kind man who, although beaten and slapped in all directions by fate, clings desperately to the belief that he lives in "the best of all possible worlds." On the surface, an ingenious and teasing story, this 18th-century classic is actually a satirical and savage drive toward philosophical optimism that proclaims that all disasters and human suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Fast, funny, often scandalous, the immortal narrative of the French philosopher leads Candide all over the world to discover that, contrary to the teachings of his distinguished professor, Dr. Pangloss,all is not always the best . Candide has become Voltaire's most renowned work.
