Voltaire

Literature & Philosophy1694 – 1778

Candide, philosophical letters

The embodiment of the Enlightenment — wit as a weapon against superstition, injustice, and cruelty. Candide is the most devastating satire ever written: a comic demolition of philosophical optimism that remains as sharp as the day it was published.

Key works

  • Candide1759The best of all possible worlds — demolished
  • Letters on the English1733France examined through English eyes

Connections

External