Résumé
The novel is a collection of fictional letters exchanged between two Persian noblemen, Usbek and Rica, and their friends and confidantes.
Usbek and Rica travel to France, and their letters provide a fresh, often humorous and critical, perspective on the customs, politics, and social life of 18th-century Paris.
The story is a satirical critique of French society, the absolute monarchy, and the Catholic Church.
A secondary plot unfolds through letters from Usbek's harem in Persia, detailing the disintegration of his household and the revolt of his wives.
The novel explores themes of cultural relativism, freedom, and the nature of power.