This is generally one of the "better books" according to my students. It's a satire (a comical book written to criticize social ills) written by François-Marie Arouet more commonly known by his pen name, Voltaire. An Enlightenment author, Voltaire wrote various works in an effort to speak out against the absolute rulers of the time. By writing a satire, his book was less prone to censorship.
There are various themes present in Candide, disguised in the characters and events that take place, such as the hypocrisy of religion and the stupidity of "optimism". There are many, many more, but you'll have to find those out for yourself!
