Zadig; Or, The Book of Fate

"Zadig; Or, The Book of Fate" by Voltaire is an Oriental fiction written in the early 18th century. The narrative follows the philosophical journey of Zadig, a well-educated young man from Babylon, as he navigates love, fortune, and the complexities of life in a whimsical yet thought-provoking manner. The story opens with a dedication to the Sultana Sheraa and sets the stage for a series of adventures that explore themes of fate, morality, and human nature. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Zadig, who is depicted as a wise and generous man, revered for his character and intellect. As he approaches a marriage with the beautiful Semira, their happiness is abruptly interrupted by a violent confrontation with jealous rivals, leading to a series of misfortunes for him, including the loss of Semira to Orcan, a powerful and arrogant antagonist. With his one eye injured in the skirmish, Zadig's experiences lay the groundwork for a larger exploration of the trials and tribulations he faces in pursuit of love and fulfillment, as well as the philosophical inquiries that arise from these encounters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

François-Marie Arouet, known by his nom de plume M. de Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher (philosophe), satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and his criticism of Christianity and of slavery, Voltaire was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.