Candide
Voltaire
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Candide, ou l’Optimisme, (“Candide, or Optimism”) (1759) is a picaresque novel by the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Voltaire never openly admitted to having written the controversial Candide; the work is signed with a pseudonym: “Monsieur le docteur Ralph”, literally “Mister Doctor Ralph.”Sardonic in outlook, it follows the naïve protagonist Candide from his first exposure to the precept that “all is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds,” and on through a series of adventures that dramatically disprove that precept even as the protagonist clings to it.The novel satirizes naïve interpretations of the philosophy of Gottfried Leibniz and is a showcase of the horrors of the 18th century world. In Candide, Leibniz is represented by the philosopher Pangloss, the tutor of the title character. Despite a series of misfortunes and misadventures, which include being present at the Lisbon Earthquake, Pangloss continually asserts that “Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles” (“All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”). The novel ends with Candide finally rejecting the optimism espoused by Pangloss, saying, “Il faut cultiver notre jardin” (“It is necessary to cultivate our garden”). Summary from Wikipedia (3 hr 58 min)
Chapters
Chapter 00 | 7:49 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Chapter 01 | 7:10 | Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015) |
Chapter 02 | 6:34 | Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015) |
Chapter 03 | 3:57 | Read by Justine Young |
Chapter 04 | 5:41 | Read by Justine Young |
Chapter 05 | 4:35 | Read by Justine Young |
Chapter 06 | 2:40 | Read by EdwardT |
Chapter 07 | 4:01 | Read by EdwardT |
Chapter 08 | 6:45 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 09 | 3:51 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 10 | 4:35 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 11 | 8:02 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 12 | 7:23 | Read by EdwardT |
Chapter 13 | 6:16 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 14 | 8:19 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 15 | 5:14 | Read by featherheadfop |
Chapter 16 | 12:32 | Read by Dimitri Fotopoulos |
Chapter 17 | 11:14 | Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015) |
Chapter 18 | 17:49 | Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015) |
Chapter 19 | 11:29 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 20 | 5:48 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 21 | 4:00 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 22 | 22:23 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 23 | 3:18 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 24 | 10:27 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 25 | 11:49 | Read by Joyce Nussbaum |
Chapter 26 | 7:13 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Chapter 27 | 8:09 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Chapter 28 | 6:00 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Chapter 29 | 3:02 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Chapter 30 | 10:32 | Read by Fox in the Stars |
Reviews
The greatest work of sarcasm I have yet read.
Kyle
Probably the best example of articulate sarcasm being used to undermine another viewpoint I can think of. It's the first Voltaire I've ever read, but will not be the last. Also, the readers did a good job.
Sarabi
the story is alright, but some of the readers have such an unnatural cadence that they're difficult to listen to. I almost gave up in the middle but I wanted to hear the story and didn't have WiFi access to download another version
Great!
Daniel Tore
A well read and interesting satirical philosophical novel. Candide discusses philosophical optimism and man's reflections of the state of nature. A somewhat cynical book, it takes jabs at religion, philosophy, royalty and belief. Definitely worth your time.
A LibriVox Listener
Excellent! I love Voltaire and his take on the world is usually spot on.
Very good
A LibriVox Listener
Very good book and very good readers except for chapter 16
easy to listen to
Steven H.
the readers are all pretty good.
excellent but did not refute
JeremyLivermore
did not refute liebniz
love voltair's wit magnificent job by the readers
Senne