Candide is the story of a gentle man who, though beaten and beaten in all directions by fate, desperately clings to the belief that he lives in "the best of all possible worlds." On the surface, a witty and teasing tale, this 18th century classic is actually a savage and satirical push to philosophical optimism that proclaims that all human disaster and suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Fast, funny, often outrageous, the French philosopher's immortal narrative leads Candide across the globe to discover that, contrary to what her distinguished tutor, Dr. Pangloss, teaches, not everything is always for the best. Live with wit, brilliance and humorous storytelling, Candide has become Voltaire's most famous work.