Pangloss would have been right at home in a post-truth, social media world. You can imagine the tweets, “I was hanged and survived #soggyrope,” or, “#nosyphilisnochocolate.” Candide, written in 1759, was never more relevant than today. Blind obeisance and denial, barbarous villainy, greed, and rapacity, are all in a day’s toil for the young Candide. And this is in the best of all possible worlds!
Voltaire (1694–1778), born François-Marie Arouet, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties. He produced works in almost every literary form, including poetry, novels, essays, plays, historical and scientific works, and over two thousand books and pamphlets.
Martyn Swain is a professional audiobook narrator who has also acted on stage and screen, produced and voiced content for current-affairs radio, and tutored in media and presentation skills. A simultaneous interpreter for more than thirty years, interpreting in French and English for senior diplomats and international organizations, he interpreted personally for Nelson Mandela shortly after his release from prison. He also speaks German and Spanish.