From the satirical pen of one of France's greatest cynics comes the story of Candide - young, innocent, guileless - who is cast upon the world after Baron Thunder-ten-trockh learns that his lusty daughter, Cunegonde, has tried to seduce the young man. The novel chronicles Candide's adventures with his blindly optimistic tutor, Dr. Pangloss, through any number of disastrous experiences, as they search for the answers to life's perennial questions. A champion of the Enlightenment, Voltaire (1694-1778) was quick to attack tyranny, fanaticism, intolerance, superstition, and prejudice wherever they occurred. His merciless satire, unorthodox views, and enmity to organized religion were a source of irritation to the political and religious authorities of his day.