Lunchtime read: Candide

The optimistic Candide finds life testing to his limit as he finds his love and then is forced to part from her in order to save his own skin. You sense when you are reading this that admirers like Catherine the Great must have found the style amusing and the quips against authority and religion refreshingly challenging.

Highlights from chapters XI – XIV
* As the fugitives travel to South America Cunegonde’s maid tells her life story – that she was the daughter of the pope and had a life of luxury before losing her position and being forced into servitude

* She tells of her journey to become a maid and warns Cunegonde that position can never be taken for granted and there are people that are worse off than her

* Once landed in Buenos Aires the governor takes a liking to Cunegode and muscles in on her as Candide is forced to flee from authorities travelling to track down the murderer of the Grand Inquisitor

* He travels onto a town run by Spanish friars and is surprised to discover that Cunegode’s brother has taken refuge in the town and has survived the war that Candide assumed he had been killed in

More tomorrow…