Candide or The Optimist by Voltaire Book Review

Released: 1759 (Translated to English in 1762)

Genre: Satire, Drama, Fiction

Number of Pages: 130

Voltaire has been widely acclaimed as one of the finest writers in French history. As a deeply engaged philosopher, his works were often inspired by both personal experience and his questioning of commonly held beliefs. Candide or The Optimist is one of his best-known books and for good reason.

The story begins with the titular protagonist being thrown out of his sheltered estate in Westphalia. With little money or status, he embarks on a long-winded journey across Europe, South America and back again. After being protected from misfortune for years, it doesn’t take long for him to run afoul of several unfriendly faces. Candide’s misadventures bring him into contact with a manservant named Cacambo, an older woman who lost her idyllic existence as the daughter of Pope Urban X and a scholar named Martin who holds more downcast views on society and civilization. Raging storms, forced conscription and native encounters are just a few of the scenarios that take place.

The thirty episodic chapters are short, snappy and to the point; while this does reduce the development of some characters, the book maintains a great momentum and variety that keeps you invested in the long journey. The narrative is often very graphic with the delivery of brutal punishments alongside the sadistic actions committed by warring soldiers and pirates. By switching between joy and torment, acquaintances and enemies, fortune and failure, The Optimist stands out as a fascinating tale with a firm focus on choice and consequences. This is emphasised by Candide’s yearning for Miss Cunégonde, a central thread that keeps him moving forward.

Recommended?

YES: Voltaire was extremely prescient when he wrote Candide more than two centuries ago. In spite of a short length and less detail for some of the characters, the book has a lot to say on human nature, duality and our greater existence under cause and effect. With a very accessible story and plenty of underlying musings that still resonate today, this is a classic that all readers should look into.