When I read works of great literary or historical significance I flip back and forth through the footnotes and the text in order to fully understand the book and the views expressed.
If the book is interesting, this doesn't bog me down too much, and actually allows me to slow down and enjoy the book. Unfortunately, Candide, although it's written in an accessible manner and with a fairly clear narrative, was so tedious I got trapped somewhere in the middle of my library copy and never made it to Paris with the eponymous protagonist.
I'm sure it's an excellent book, but it doesn't make for a good read.