Cunégonde

<em>Candide</em>Title page of an early printed version of Voltaire's Candide published in London, 1759. Its subtitle, L'Optimisme, means “The Optimist.”

Cunégonde, fictional character who is the childhood friend and later the lover and wife of the title character in Voltaire’s satiric novel Candide (1759).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: Cunégonde
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 23 April 2014
Access Date: November 13, 2026