How many words is Candide?

35,467 words, counted from the complete public-domain text rather than estimated from a page count.

Is Candide free to read?

Yes. Candide is in the public domain in the United States and can be read in full, free and without an account.

Candide

Q: How long does it take to read Candide?

Candide is 35,467 words, which is about 2h 22m at an average reading speed of 250 words per minute. At 400 words per minute it is about 1h 29m, and at 600 about 59 min.

Voltaire

Candide is 35,467 words — about 2h 22m at 250 words per minute, across 31 chapters. Measure your own speed and read it free, here.

How long does it take to read Candide?

2h 22m at 250 words per minute

35,467 words · 31 chapters · counted from the full text, not estimated from a page count. Measure your own speed and this becomes your number.

Public domain 31 chapters

Read Candide

How it opens

Ever since 1759, when Voltaire wrote "Candide" in ridicule of the notion that this is the best of all possible worlds, this world has been a gayer place for readers. Voltaire wrote it in three days, and five or six generations have found that its laughter does not grow old.…

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