Candide (AudioGO Edition)

By: Voltaire

Narrated by: Jack Davenport

Length: 3 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Candide, published simultaneously in five European capitals in 1759, became an instant best seller and is now regarded as one of the key texts of the Enlightenment. Voltaire’s preoccupations with evil and with various kinds of human folly and intolerance found a perfect vehicle in the philosophical tale. A master storyteller, he combined often wildly entertaining action with profoundly serious sense, parodying the traditional chivalric and oriental tales with which his public was more familiar to create a witty allegory of a young man whose optimism gives way to disillusionment after a series of terrible misfortunes.

Public Domain (P)2010 AudioGo

READ THIS! Saturating Satire...

This classic is very satirical and humorous. Voltaire brings attention to a lot of white elephants of culture and a lot are still relevant today. The narration was very good and I listened at 2X speed just fine. No vulgarity. The reading of the chapter headings is different than books out today. I would add this to your library if you can get a good price. If any of this was helpful, please click YES below. Later.

Not what I expected

I listened to this book without any historical or philosophical references. Perhaps if I had, I wouldn't have been nearly as frustrated or annoyed at all the "different" situations our hero amazingly got himself into and then out of. I nearly stopped listening multiple times, but since the listen was so short, I forged on . . . and I'm glad I did. The final chapter made the listen entirely worth while. I will need to listen again now that I understand and have reviewed the context of the hero and the story and I am sure I will enjoy it as much as others who have reviewed this book.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

not unabriged

great performance, however I should have been aware it is not unabridged. oh well still good

Superb Performance

I have listened to lots of books on audible (some classic, some modern, & so forth) & I have never heard such an amazing performance by the narrator as I did while listening to Jack Davenport read Candide. Each character has their own unique, distinct voice. There were no lulls or dull moments in tone or pace. This performance parallels the wild story in excitement & excellence. I enjoyed this experience very much. Five stars well deserved.

entertaining story, great performance

this story is bonkers in a fun way, fun quick listen. I recommend this audio book.

Awesome

Finely read at 35 ! Fun reward I enjoyed it my brother has bee telling me to read it for quite some time and I recently got subtle and have been listening at the gym and upon waking up very satisfied

Amazing

Great book, but the performance was absolutely outstanding. If you have any interest in this work at all, you won’t go wrong with this version.

A classic of black humour

If you are a true believer and easily scandalised, this book’s not for you. If you are a fan of the irreverent, though, and would like to read an example of top-quality, vintage, black humour then it is.

The action is fast-paced and extreme. The jibes are well-aimed and funny. The writing is excellent and the narration in this version is top-notch.

Candide is Voltaire’s the most widely read work and, though relatively short, is considered a classic of Western literature. It undoubtedly inspired many authors of black humour that followed including, more recently, Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut. (Personally, I wonder if it didn’t also inspire some of the Monty Python troupe, directly or indirectly.)

[SPOILER ALERT] In the story Candide, the main character, goes from happy-go-lucky optimist to, well, probably a realist. Through a series of funny, terrible, outrageous, and/or shocking --but strangely credible-- events, Candide comes to doubt the teachings of the tutor, Pangloss. He asserts consistently that all is for the best, no matter how bad things seem. Pangloss asserts this even after he is killed. Along the way, government, religion, the wealthy, the learned, etc. are all rightfully and amusingly skewered. Yea!

I highly recommend this book if you have a skeptical nature and/or an iconoclastic bent. Though published in 1759, this classic is still funny and enjoyable today.

A much deeper value than I thought in highschool

What made the experience of listening to Candide (AudioGO Edition) the most enjoyable?

The accents and voices that the narrator used were awesome. His voices really hit the nail on the head. I find these characters to be relatable and hilarious in their accounts. I think this work was way ahead of its time, and it seems more like observational comedy and spiritual lesson than it does historical account or work for a school project. I loved this book in school, but not as much as I love it now. Voltaire is a witty and sharp writer, and his message is not only beneficial to all but I believe it to be absolutely true.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor that is peppered throughout is hilarious. This book is a master work also because it really gives some perspective to the complaints of modern day man. People lived through these hard times and they were murdered, raped, pillaged, enslaved and treated poorly only to struggle to exist. We get upset when we lose our cell phone signals. A little healthy perspective goes a long way!

Which character – as performed by Jack Davenport – was your favorite?

Candide, of course! Candide and I have way too much in common for me to not love him. Also, Cacambo is an awesome character. I really love his insight and dedication.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh. Then I laughed some more. Then I listened to it again so I could laugh some more. Well done, Voltaire!

Be prepared for a surprise

this is a good book about life, curmudgeons, and gratitude. probably a book most people should read but many wont.