The naive Candide is literally kicked out of his childhood home when unfairly accused of sexual attentions towards his idol, Lady Cunégonde. Yet Dr Pangloss, the learned philosopher, has taught him the positive notion that all is for the best. And throughout his hilarious adventures and misfortunes, Candide remains true to Pangloss's creed, even when faced with ridiculous examples of injustice, suffering and despair. His incessant optimism appears to be justified-in E1 Dorado, a Utopian land in which money and possessions are deemed worthless, yet ironically Candide is restless to leave this ideal society in search of worldly fulfihnent.
Voltaire's scathing attack on vain and dreamy philosophizing remains as controversial and entertaining today as on its first Publication in 1759.
PART I
Chapter
I. The Castle of Thunder-ten-Tronckh
II. Running the Gaundet
III. Escape into Holland
IV. Pangloss on the Pox
V. The Death of the Anabaptist
VL An Auto-da-fé
VIIvn. Cunégonde Re-found
VIII. Cunégonde's Story
IX. Deaths of the Jew and the Inquisitor
X. Embarkation for the New World
XI. The Old Woman's Story--1
XII. The Old Woman's Story--2
XIII. The Governor of Buenos Aires
XIV. Flight to Paraguay
XV. The Jesuit Baron
XVI The Girls and the Monkeys
XVII. El Dorado--1
XVIII. El Dorado--2
XIX. The Dutch Shipmaster
XX. Martin the Manichaean
XXI The Nature of Mankind
XXII. A Rich Stranger in Paris
XXIII. 'To Encourage the Others'
XXIV. Paquette and Friar Girofl&
XXV. Senator Pococurante
XXVI. Supper with Six Kings
XXVII. Voyage to Constantinople
XXVIII, The Galley-shves' Stories
XXVX. Cunégonde Found Again
XXX. Philosophy on the Proponfis
PART II
Original Introduction to Part II
Chapter
I. Candide Sets Out Again
II. The Hospitable Persian
III. A Favourite of the Sophi
IV. Candide Loses a Leg
V. Governor Candide
VI. Candide's Seraglio
VII. Zirza's Story
VIII. The Abbé Again
IX. Candide is Disgraced
X. Pangloss and the Officer
XI Candide and the Lapp Wife
XII The Ncwtonians and The Parricide
XIII. Zenoida's Story
XIV. The Wooing of Zenoida
XV. Volhall Intervcnes
XVI. The Jealous Cunégondc
XVII. Candide Mcditates Suicide
XVIII. The End of Pangloss
XIX. The Last of Cunégondc
XX. 'Everything is Not Too Bad'