Voltaire’s Candide is a satirical novel from the mid-18th century, following the journey of its protagonist, Candide, who, after living a peaceful and privileged life, is abruptly expelled from his idyllic home and thrust into a world rife with absurdity, violence, and philosophical challenges. This work critiques the popular optimistic philosophy of the time, using Candide’s encounters with various characters and his experiences of hardship to satirize these ideas. The story begins by depicting Candide’s upbringing in the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh, where he is influenced by Pangloss, an optimistic philosopher who instills in him the belief that they live in “the best of all possible worlds.” However, when Candide is discovered in a moment of innocent affection with the Baron’s daughter, Cunegonde, he is brutally cast out from the castle. This incident forces him to confront the harsh realities of the world, filled with war and suffering, which quickly challenges his naive worldview. Through Candide’s journey, the novel explores key themes of philosophy, love, and the inherent absurdity of life, ultimately conveying Voltaire’s reflections on human happiness and the search for real contentment in an unpredictable and often harsh world.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER
I. HOW CANDIDE WAS BROUGHT UP IN A MAGNIFICENT CASTLE, AND HOW HE WAS EXPELLED THENCE.
II. WHAT BECAME OF CANDIDE AMONG THE BULGARIANS.
III. HOW CANDIDE MADE HIS ESCAPE FROM THE BULGARIANS, AND WHAT AFTERWARDS BECAME OF HIM.
IV. HOW CANDIDE FOUND HIS OLD MASTER PANGLOSS, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
V. TEMPEST, SHIPWRECK, EARTHQUAKE, AND WHAT BECAME OF DOCTOR PANGLOSS, CANDIDE, AND JAMES THE ANABAPTIST.
VI. HOW THE PORTUGUESE MADE A BEAUTIFUL AUTO-DA-FE, TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER EARTHQUAKES; AND HOW CANDIDE WAS PUBLICLY WHIPPED.
VII. HOW THE OLD WOMAN TOOK CARE OF CANDIDE, AND HOW HE FOUND THE OBJECT HE LOVED.
VIII. THE HISTORY OF CUNEGONDE.
IX. WHAT BECAME OF CUNEGONDE, CANDIDE, THE GRAND INQUISITOR, AND THE JEW.
X. IN WHAT DISTRESS CANDIDE, CUNEGONDE, AND THE OLD WOMAN ARRIVED AT CADIZ; AND OF THEIR EMBARKATION.
XI. HISTORY OF THE OLD WOMAN.
XII. THE ADVENTURES OF THE OLD WOMAN CONTINUED.
XIII. HOW CANDIDE WAS FORCED AWAY FROM HIS FAIR CUNEGONDE AND THE OLD WOMAN.
XIV. HOW CANDIDE AND CACAMBO WERE RECEIVED BY THE JESUITS OF PARAGUAY.
XV. HOW CANDIDE KILLED THE BROTHER OF HIS DEAR CUNEGONDE.
XVI. ADVENTURES OF THE TWO TRAVELLERS, WITH TWO GIRLS, TWO MONKEYS, AND THE SAVAGES CALLED OREILLONS.
XVII. ARRIVAL OF CANDIDE AND HIS VALET AT EL DORADO, AND WHAT THEY SAW THERE.
XVIII. WHAT THEY SAW IN THE COUNTRY OF EL DORADO.
XIX. WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AT SURINAM AND HOW CANDIDE GOT ACQUAINTED WITH MARTIN.
XX. WHAT HAPPENED AT SEA TO CANDIDE AND MARTIN.
XXI.
CANDIDE AND MARTIN, REASONING, DRAW NEAR THE COAST OF FRANCE.
XXII. WHAT HAPPENED IN FRANCE TO CANDIDE AND MARTIN.
XXIII. CANDIDE AND MARTIN TOUCHED UPON THE COAST OF ENGLAND, AND WHAT THEY SAW THERE.
XXIV. OF PAQUETTE AND FRIAR GIROFLEE.
XXV. THE VISIT TO LORD POCOCURANTE, A NOBLE VENETIAN.
XXVI. OF A SUPPER WHICH CANDIDE AND MARTIN TOOK WITH SIX STRANGERS, AND WHO THEY WERE.
XXVII. CANDIDE'S VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE.
XXVIII. WHAT HAPPENED TO CANDIDE, CUNEGONDE, PANGLOSS, MARTIN, ETC.
XXIX. HOW CANDIDE FOUND CUNEGONDE AND THE OLD WOMAN AGAIN.
XXX. THE CONCLUSION.
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