Candide

Voltaire's Candide is a satirical and humorously exaggerated novella that challenges the optimistic outlook prevalent in the 18th century. It follows Candide, a young man who endures a series of absurd and often darkly humorous hardships while trying to maintain his optimistic beliefs. Throughout his journey, the story explores themes of perception, reality, and the nature of the world, all conveyed through a witty and thought-provoking narrative.