“Forgotten Book Friday”
Posted on July 24th, 2009
Zadig by Voltaire
Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire’s “Candide” (1759) is known to almost every student of literature, but another superb satire written by the sharp-witted French master of social commentary has been too often overlooked, especially by fans of detective fiction who seek out the antecedents of modern versions of the genre. The story is entitled “Zadig” (1747).
When Voltaire’s tale begins, readers are invited to consider carefully “the story of Zadig, a work that says more than it seems to say.” The young Babylonian is described as a fellow with a “fine native disposition” whose character had been “strengthened by education.” “Young and rich, he knew how to moderate his passions,” and “he did not insist on always being right, and was able to respect human frailty.” This exemplary protagonist with “an attractive face, a just and moderate mind, [and] a sincere and noble heart, thought he could be happy.” However, as Voltaire’s savage satire unfolds, Zadig discovers happiness is rather elusive.
First, Zadig’s love life has plenty of complications. Jilted by one woman and betrayed by another, the hapless hero’s problems then quickly multiply. He demonstrates a determined instinct for survival as he runs afoul of the Babylonian monarch, gets himself sentenced to death (because of a king’s jealousy), escapes into Egypt but is taken as a slave, gets himself sentenced to death again (because of his apparent blasphemy), and ultimately—with his indefatigable spirit to carry him along—Zadig wins the woman he loves (doing so literally through armed combat and intellectual prowess), becomes King, and seems destined to live happily ever after. Of course, that seems like a natural outcome because “[w]hen one is loved by a beautiful woman, says the great Zoroaster, one always gets out of trouble in this world.” Moreover, as an angel disguised as a hermit points out to Zadig, nothing was really left the chance because Providence had everything under control.
So, what does all of this have to do with detective fiction? Readers who give careful attention to Zadig’s adventures will recognize something in his intellect and personality that will remind them of Poe’s Dupin, Doyle’s Holmes, and Christie’s Poirot. With respect to Zadig, the “case” of the Queen’s disappearing dog and the “case” of the King’s wandering horse brilliantly showcase the young Babylonian sleuth’s employment of his little grey cells for purposes of ratiocination. In fact, Zadig—a student who “studies above all the properties of animals and plants” [much like Doyle’s Holmes] and would use his “principal talent [. . .] to bring to light the truth”—relies upon “a sagacity which revealed to him a thousand differences where other men [could] see nothing but uniformity.” And, like Zadig’s contemporaries who “marveled as Zadig’s profound and subtle discernment,” modern readers will also be impressed. Readers will also discover—like Zadig—just a “how dangerous it sometimes [is] to be too knowing.”
Tags: Antecedents, Armed Combat, Babylonian, Blasphemy, Candide, Detective Fiction, Forgotten Book, Francois Marie Arouet, Francois Marie Arouet De Voltaire, French Master, Intellectual Prowess, Love Life, Natural Outcome, Noble Heart, Passions, Savage Satire, Social Commentary, Voltaire, Zadig, Zoroaster
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