VoltaireVerified

A French satire in which the young Candide, taught to be an optimist, meets hardship and catastrophe on a fast-moving, fantastical journey. Voltaire ridicules optimistic philosophy, religion and governments.

An alphabetically arranged dictionary published in 1764 with sharp articles attacking the Roman Catholic Church, as well as Judaism, Islam and other institutions. It began anonymously with 73 entries and grew over time.