Candide: Or, Optimism (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (N)

"With Candide, Voltaire bumptiously skewered the fashionable misinterpretation of the doctrine of philosophical optimism, unerringly offending kings, scientists, fanaticals, publishers, journalists, and even priests; composed in a mere three days, Candide's capacity to amuse, disgust, and surprise endures today, roughly ninety thousand days later. Theo Cuffe's new translation is invaluable for those English-speaking readers who cannot understand French, and the introduction by Michael Wood should prove indispensable to all school children who haven't read the book and are cramming in homeroom before the test. All in all, it's a delightful little package, sure to be a favorite of fans of the enlightenment or despotic oligarchs seeking tips and tricks to increase their fan base."--BOOK JACKET.