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Candide, or Optimism (Paperback)
  • Candide, or Optimism (Paperback)
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Candide, or Optimism (Paperback)

(author), (editor,translator), (author of introduction)
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£7.99
Paperback 208 Pages
Published: 25/05/2006
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'The prince of philosophical novels' John Updike

In Candide, Voltaire threw down an audacious challenge to the philosophical views of the Enlightenment to create one of the most glorious satires of the eighteenth century. His eponymous hero is an innocent young man whose tutor, Pangloss, has instilled in him the belief that 'all is for the best'. But when his love for the Baron's rosy-cheeked daughter is discovered, Candide is cast out to make his own fortune. As he and his various companions roam over the world, an outrageous series of disasters - earthquakes, syphilis, the Inquisition - sorely test the young hero's optimism, holding a mirror up to all fanatics, zealots and moral reformers of humankind.

Translated and Edited by Theo Cuffe with an Introduction by Michael Wood

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780140455106
Number of pages: 208
Weight: 161 g
Dimensions: 197 x 130 x 11 mm


MEDIA REVIEWS

Winner of the 2012 Fifty Books/Fifty Covers show, organized by Design Observer in association with AIGA and Designers & BooksWinner of the 2014 Type Directors Club Communication Design AwardPraise for Penguin Drop Caps:"[Penguin Drop Caps] convey a sense of nostalgia for the tactility and aesthetic power of a physical book and for a centuries-old tradition of beautiful lettering."—Fast Company“Vibrant, minimalist new typographic covers…. Bonus points for the heartening gender balance of the initial selections.”—Maria Popova, Brain Pickings"The Penguin Drop Caps series is a great example of the power of design. Why buy these particular classics when there are less expensive, even free editions of Great Expectations? Because they’re beautiful objects. Paul Buckley and Jessica Hische’s fresh approach to the literary classics reduces the design down to typography and color. Each cover is foil-stamped with a cleverly illustrated letterform that reveals an element of the story. Jane Austen’s A (Pride and Prejudice) is formed by opulent peacock feathers and Charlotte Bronte’s B (Jane Eyre) is surrounded by flames. The complete set forms a rainbow spectrum prettier than anything else on your bookshelf."—Rex Bonomelli, The New York Times"Drool-inducing."—Flavorwire"Classic reads in stunning covers—your book club will be dying."—Redbook

Waterstones Kensington Book Club - March

Waterstones Kensington Book Club - March

London - Kensington
Wednesday 19th March 18:30

Join us in Waterstones Kensington for our monthly book club. In March, we will be discussing the philosophical classic Candide, or Optimism by Francois Voltaire.

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“Only for students?”

Candide is a third person narrative that can be seen as a piece of travel writing, a fable or a parable. What it most certainly is, is a satirical piece of writing that though written over 250 years ago it still has... More

Paperback edition
Helpful? Upvote 77

“Interesting Story”

I was not sure whether to laugh, be irritated or be appalled by the events throughout. Although I perfectly understand the contexts of it, philosophically and histofically, there is only so much a character can be... More

Paperback edition
Helpful? Upvote 62

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