Candide: or, The Optimist

Candide is a satirical novel by Voltaire that was first published in 1759. The story follows the adventures of Candide, a young man who is expelled from his castle and travels the world, encountering various eccentric characters and having incredible adventures. The novel is a philosophical critique of Leibniz's optimism and explores themes such as the nature of evil, the futility of human suffering, and the importance of free will. Despite its controversial nature, Candide has become one of the most famous works of French literature and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of the Enlightenment era.