Candide
Or, the Optimist
Candide, published in 1759, is Voltaire's short, savage comedy about a young man raised in a German castle to believe, with his tutor Pangloss, that this is the best of all possible worlds. Thrown out for kissing the baron's daughter Cunégonde, Candide is conscripted, flogged, shipwrecked, caught in the Lisbon earthquake, interrogated by the Inquisition and robbed in the New World, and he keeps meeting people he thought were dead. Along the way he visits Eldorado, where gold is mud, and ends on a small farm near Constantinople with the conclusion that we must cultivate our garden. The book was banned at once and has never been out of print. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Candide
Candide by Voltaire can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Candide online?
Yes. Candide opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Candide free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Candide is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Candide in the public domain?
Yes. Candide by Voltaire is a public-domain work, here in the translation by The Modern Library. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Candide?
About 2 h 21 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Candide?
Candide by Voltaire is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
