Primary sourceBook1747-1748
Zadig ou la destinée
Voltaire · 1747-1748
Voltaire's philosophical tale about a young man's struggle to find happiness, read aloud in French by LibriVox volunteers.
Zadig is one of Voltaire's own philosophical tales, showing his literary voice and ideas on fate and happiness.
About this source
What it is
Zadig ou la destinée is a philosophical tale written by Voltaire, first published in the 1740s. The text here is presented with a volunteer audio reading in French, recorded for LibriVox — not Voltaire's own voice, but a modern reading of his words.
Why it matters
Zadig follows a wealthy young man who discovers that happiness is hard, though possible, to find. It is often read as Voltaire's meditation on fate, virtue, and the unpredictability of life, reflecting the philosophical concerns of the Enlightenment.
Look closer
- Why might Voltaire have chosen an
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Voltaire on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
More Voltaire sources
Meet the AI Voltaire →
Ready when you are
Start chatting with Voltaire now.
20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.