Candide â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About Candide

by Voltaire

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Answered Questions (12)

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Rik This book is a classic! A treasure of 18th-century satire. You're either a troll or a troglodyte. Go and read the Hunger Games again.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðThis book is a classic! A treasure of 18th-century satire. You're either a troll or a troglodyte. Go and read the Hunger Games again.(less)

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So, I loved Candide and am now interested in finding more books with a similar satire base writing style. Any recommendations?

Misha I'd go with something like Catch-22, highly entertaining, absurdist and filled with black humor.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI'd go with something like Catch-22, highly entertaining, absurdist and filled with black humor.(less)

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Which is the best English translation of Candide?

Ellen By far, the best translation I have read is by Theo Cuffe. I have read excerpts of the original version in French and by my understanding they are verâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðBy far, the best translation I have read is by Theo Cuffe. I have read excerpts of the original version in French and by my understanding they are very close. This translation provides the same wit and fearless poignancy that the original French does. (less)

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Does anyone have a theory about why characters in Candide, who were presumed dead, kept coming back to life? What possibly could the author mean by that?

Melina I'm guessing it has to do with either the book being a satire, or for the purpose of emphasizing the general optimism of the novel, personified by Panâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI'm guessing it has to do with either the book being a satire, or for the purpose of emphasizing the general optimism of the novel, personified by Pangloss. Death would be the ultimate misery a human could sufferâ€“downplaying other adversities like earthquakes, stealing, piratesâ€� and coming back from the dead is Voltaire's hyperbolic way of mocking optimism. If even people can overcome death and resurrect, then truly all is for the best, and we live in the best world possible.(less)

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About how old should one be to read Candide? (I'm considering giving a copy to my daughter who is 15 years old.)

Kumari de Silva I stumbled across Candide when I was 17 and found it utterly hilarious. It's a slender novel that would take about 5 hours to read if you read it alouâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI stumbled across Candide when I was 17 and found it utterly hilarious. It's a slender novel that would take about 5 hours to read if you read it aloud, less time if you can sight read - maybe read it yourself first and then decide. Or have a book club of two people if you give it to her to read after you have read it(less)

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