Candide

Candide is an innocent young nobleman who leads an idyllic, sheltered life and has adopted the optimistic mindset promoted by his tutor Dr. Pangloss. However, after committing an indiscretion and being expelled from his family home, Candide embarks on a journey that takes him to Portugal, Argentina, Britain, and Turkey, exposing him to torture, war, shipwreck, and natural disasters. This leads him to question whether he is truly living in the "best of possible worlds." Published in 1759, Candide became a best-seller and stirred up much controversy. It is an exhilarating picaresque romp and a biting satire by one of the Enlightenment's major figures that still resonates today.