Candide provide a study guide analyzing the 1759 satirical novella. The text targets Enlightenment optimism and the philosophes—the French intellectuals of the 18th century—by mocking abstract philosophical systems that claim our world is "the best of all possible worlds".

Clear and to the point, Monarch Notes provide students and interested readers with an excellent supplement for the understanding and appreciation of the world's great writing. Each volume helps the reader to encounter the original work more fully by placing it in historical context, focusing on the important aspects of the text, and posing key questions. Monarch Notes Background on the Author and the Work Detailed Plot Summary Character Analysis Major themes in the Work Critical Reception of the Work Questions and Model Answers Guides to Further Study.