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Candide and Zadig

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Candide and Zadig

By: Voltaire
Narrated by: Clive Chafer
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About this listen

These two classic coming-of-age stories by Voltaire parody the romanticism of his day with the ruthless wit that has made him the undisputed master of social commentary.

Candide, which is alternately titled Optimism, is a merciless satire and exposé of the ideas and institutions men live by. In this philosophical fantasy, the naïve Candide comes to witness and to suffer such misfortune that he rejects the philosophy of his tutor, Dr. Pangloss, who claims that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”

Zadig is the story of another optimist—young, rich, beautiful, and engaged to a woman he loves. When his early hopes and assets are destroyed, he embarks on a journey that will systematically explore science, religion, and the military, contributing to each, betrayed by all. Through these trials, he will eventually win the kingdom of Babylon.

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Stories Witty

Critic reviews

“A masterful satire on the follies and vices of men.” (Masterpieces of World Literature on Candide)
All stars
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Really really interesting funny and very rested to Sherlock Holmes . I hate you are word counting and making me Review

Ddd adduce and Zadie

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Written in yee oldie English I am not denying it was hard going but I am glad I took the trouble to listen to some of Voltaire’s work.
Unlike some of the reviews I did get used to Clive Chafer’s narration.

Worth a Listen

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I had to abandon this book due to the reader. He reads wuth the monotony and pace af a gattling gun. There is a much better version. This one, for me, is torture.

Cannot listen due to the reader

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What disappointed you about Candide and Zadig?

The narrator saps the joy from the piece, making it unlistenable to

What did you like best about this story?

I've been told it's very good and seemed funny

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Clive Chafer?

Interesting question; probably Johnathan Cecil, he'd get the comedy just right

The Narrator Saps the Joy

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I expected more from Voltaire.
what we have is an overly drawn out, somewhat ludicrous, medieval farce, satiring Leibniz' Theodicy of "The best possible world".

Not helped by a dreadfully dreary and robotic narration.

"Ivanhoe" for philosophers.

Disappointingly dull and aged yarn.

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The performance resulted in me stopping early. review needed fifteen words so here they are

poor performance

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