Zadig oder das Schicksal

"Zadig or Destiny - An Eastern Story" is a philosophical tale by Voltaire from 1747. Part of the so-called "small novels," Zadig narrates, in the style of One Thousand and One Nights, the tumultuous adventures of a young, virtuous Babylonian, whose celestial fate—ultimately revealed to him as a winged cherub—leads to a glorious and happy ending. The satirical portrayal exposes religious fanaticism and the abuse of power in 18th-century French society and raises questions about happiness and justice.