On Voltaire and "Candide"-- A Discussion with Dr. Paul LeClerc

Flip_flop_politics
Published on Jun 24, 2021
Voltaire's tale of the youth Candide's trials, travels, and misadventures as he searches for his beloved Cunegonde was a publishing sensation in Europe in 1759. The satirical treatments of religion, sexuality, and authority made Candide both a target of censorship by the Vatican as well as a hugely popular underground success.

In this in depth discussion, Dr. Paul LeClerc, president of The New York Public Library, talks about his first encounter with the book, the first Random House publication of "Candide," and Voltaire's relevance today.