Candide and Other Stories

Synopsis

Candideis the most famous of Voltaire's "philosophical tales," in which he combined witty improbabilities with the sanest of good sense. First published in 1759, it was an instant bestseller and has come to be regarded as one of the key texts of the Enlightenment. WhatCandidedoes for chivalric romance, the other tales in this selection--Micromegas, Zadig, The Ingenu, andThe White Bull--do for science fiction, the Oriental tale, the sentimental novel, and the Old Testament. The most extensive one-volume selection currently available, this new edition includes a new verse translation of the story Voltaire based on Chaucer'sThe Wife of Bath's Tale: What Pleases the Ladiesand opens with a revised introduction that reflects recent critical debates, including a new section on Candide.