This collection gathers Voltaire's best-known short philosophical tales, led by Zadig, the story of a wise and decent man in ancient Babylon. Zadig's cleverness and honesty bring him success, but also envy, misjudgment and misfortune, and he searches for justice and happiness while Providence seems to work in puzzling ways. The other tales, written in the same light and ironic manner, use exotic or fantastic settings to examine human folly, power, religion and the limits of reason. They are quick, amusing and often sharp, and they show Voltaire developing the form that reached its peak in Candide.