Further Reading & Resources
Further Reading: Literature
Candide by Voltaire (1759)
Candide, or Optimism was published by the French writer Voltaire. The most famous and widely read work by Voltaire, Candide is a satire that critiques contemporary philosophy, and specifically Leibnizian optimism, which posited the doctrine of the best of all possible worlds.
“The Lisbon Earthquake“ by Voltaire (1755)
“The Lisbon Earthquake” is a satirical poem written by the French Enlightenment writer Voltaire after hearing news of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. The disaster had a massive effect on European thought during the second half of the 18th century. Voltaire’s poem was one of the first literary engagements with the event.
Persian Letters by Montesquieu (1721)
French nobleman Montesquieu first rose to literary fame with the publication of the Persian Letters, a witty account of a fictional correspondence between two Persian men observing the customs of 18th-century Europe.
Further Reading: Beyond Literature (Nonfiction)
“Voltaire’s Zadig and the Allegory of (Mis)reading“ by Carol Sherman (1984)
In this analytical essay, Carol Sherman traces the intricate web of contradictions Voltaire weaves throughout the text. She shows that, at every turn, Voltaire undermines both characters’ beliefs and readers’ interpretations. She also elucidates the ways Voltaire subverts literary expectations.
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