Used book – BiblioLycée: Zadig, Voltaire, Romain Lancrey-Javal, Isabelle de Lisle

In 1747, the Orient was in vogue, as was sentimental romance. Reason, according to Descartes' philosophy, was the order of the day, and the question of meaning in our existence was central to everyone's concerns. In the same year, Voltaire published Zadig. The eponymous character, a philosopher in love who thinks and cares about others, wanders in search of happiness. But the world is unjust, and Zadig's many qualities only bring him trouble. Unless this trouble ultimately leads to his happiness... Weaving together threads of reason, criticism, parody, and Oriental romance, Voltaire leads us, following his hero, on adventures that are as many questions or "enigmas," to use the title of the conclusion.