Candide [CSA Word]

By: Voltaire

Narrated by: Andrew Sachs

Length: 3 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Candide and his tutor, Pangloss, travel the globe trying to follow the philosophy "All is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds". However, they are stung and let down at every turn, being robbed, tortured, and ridiculed, amongst other trials.

On hearing about their often disastrous travels, a listener feels unfortunately less than empathetic, and can't help laughing out loud at this very funny account of the trail our optimistic travellers take, and at their eternal and endearing joy at the world and its potential discoveries.

Read beautifully by Andrew Sachs.

©2007 CSA Telltapes Ltd (P)2007 CSA Telltapes Ltd

Why the music?

Story was good, narrator, very good; but the musical interludes were too frequent and much too long. The music didn't enhance the experience, but rather seemed out of place

WONDERFUL

I join the thousands - millions? - who adore this book. hilarious, skillful and downright stunning, this gripper of a tale mocks the Enlightenment with such wit one cannot put this down!!!!!!

Beautifully performed!

Would you consider the audio edition of Candide to be better than the print version?

The audio edition brings clarity to the multiplicity of characters and the performance animates each one in a memorable way. To me, this makes the audio version compelling in a much different way from the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of the characters are compelling. The pastiche created by the entirety is what makes the work great.

Have you listened to any of Andrew Sachs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any other Andrew Sachs performances but plan to.

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

The book is hilarious and, as a result, horrifying because of the compelling and biting satire ensconced within the clever and brilliant writing.

Well read rendition

Very enjoyable. I have always enjoyed this book so my review is based solely on Andrew Sachs narration

SO glad I picked this up.

I have learned a bit about the French Revolution and I had learned that very much of it was inspired by Voltaire and it made me we want to understand a bit about him. I got this with a pretty good deal and I absolutely adore it. The reading, or should I say acting, is completely superb. The characters all have such wonderful voices that really bring out the characteristics of that person. the attitude, the humor, and the tragedy are so wonderfully displayed in this I really recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for fun, almost satirical poke at the world, and the ways of the human race. I just finished it, and the next book I'm going to listen to? This one. Again.

Interesting classic, funny narrator!

There are sound effects and funny voices in this recording. Very entertaining!

Screw you, 15-word minimum!

Mediterranean gem

I adore this book. It must be read/heard by all generations, especially who live in the western palearctic region.

a fantastical story read with dramatic skill

I found candid amusing. The reader's skill was brilliant and made it most interesting!

Candidly; brevity yes, sparkling wit no

Voltaire was thought to be one of the greatest wits of his time but this slight, sketchy book provides no matter to support that belief. Perhaps much has been lost in translation. In a short work, clearly intended as a light satire, topical references would also have been present but they are obscure today.

All we get is a brief, sketched out account of the catastrophic travails of an innocent abroad. He is repeatedly brought low by the mendacity and stupidity of almost all those he encounters on a quest to find his lost love.

An entertainment that largely fails to entertain.

A pleasant audio listening experience

I enjoyed listening to this recording. It was easy to allow my imagination to picture the story.