Candide [CSA Word] cover art

Candide [CSA Word]

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Candide [CSA Word]

By: Voltaire
Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

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
Classics European World Literature Funny Imperialism Middle Ages

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Man Who Invented Fiction cover art
Oroonoko cover art
The Duchess of Malfi & The White Devil cover art
Defiant Joy cover art
Orwell: The Essays cover art
Bookworm cover art
The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature cover art
Four and a Half Shades of Fantasy cover art
Thérèse Raquin cover art
Waiting for Godot cover art
Othello cover art
Curiosity cover art
Emigrants, The Ambros Adelwarth cover art
Thus Spoke Zarathustra cover art
No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life cover art
Invitation to a Beheading cover art
All stars
Most relevant
Tís is a very funny book at times, the hapless cadide loveable and yet detestable at times undertaking his personal journey through life is something everyone should enjoy.

Andrew Sachs is a great narrator, I'm not a huge fan of the background chapter music myself but it wouldn't dissuade me from recommending this recording

Great classic tale

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This story is crazy and seems illogical but somehow fuses meaningful philosophy without us even noticing. It’s definitely the funniest philosophy book I’ve ever read. The problem with all the silliness is that it’s hard to get a real connection with the characters. What stood out to me is the incredible voice acting by Andrew Sachs, sometimes I would forget that it’s just one person.

Mad but magnificent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I picked this book on a whim, I had heard of Voltaire but had no idea or expectations of the story.
the plot was very simple, a very easy listen and I'm sure that I missed the meaning of the story but I found it a very nice way to pass 3 hours or so.

No expectations

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Truly well narrated by Andrew Sachs. Each character retained their personality throughout. A thoroughly enjoyable audio book.

The best of all possible audible renditions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What a strange book. I would think it was a children's book if it weren't so gruesome in parts. Romps through at a rapid pace the trek throughout the world of a silly naive man and his philosophical friends. Basically telling you, don't think too much, just work hard and enjoy life. Think Voltaire would have been quicker to just read the Bible, John 16:33 "here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart, because I have overcome the world". Also found the little ditties from Saint-Saens fossils between each chapter added the the speed of the romp, and a bit unnecessary.

Tres bizarre

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews