Candide Ou L'Optimisme et Autres Contes

On August 1, 1925, Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer began their legendary publishing partnership by purchasing the Modern Library from Boni & Liveright. Two years later, they decided to publish a few books on the side, "at random." The first book released under the Random House imprint was Voltaire's Candide, every page wittily illustrated by Rockwell Kent. For years, rare-book collectors have treasured the 1,470 copies of the original edition. Now, the Modern Library releases a facsimile of the first Random House edition, a masterpiece of both literature and bookmaking. The Modern Library edition reproduces many elements of the original, including case stamping and the unique Kent-designed two-color endpapers.