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Thais
Paperback
Classic FictionGeneral FictionHistorical Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025420653
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 258
Weight: 0.81
Height: 0.54 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Thais is a masterful work of historical and philosophical fiction set in the vibrant and decadent landscape of fourth-century Roman Egypt. Written by the Nobel Prize-winning author Anatole France, the novel explores the profound spiritual journey of Paphnuce, a fanatical monk from the Egyptian desert who is determined to convert the celebrated and beautiful courtesan, Thais, to Christianity. As Paphnuce ventures into the bustling city of Alexandria to save her soul, the narrative delves into complex themes of faith, asceticism, and the inherent contradictions of the human heart.
The story is renowned for its biting irony and sophisticated prose, contrasting the stark, self-denying life of the anchorite with the opulent, intellectual world of Hellenistic culture. Through the transformation of its title character and the psychological unraveling of her supposed savior, Thais examines the thin line between religious devotion and earthly obsession. This classic work remains a poignant meditation on the nature of beauty and the elusive quest for spiritual purity, showcasing Anatole France's ability to blend historical detail with deep philosophical inquiry into the human condition.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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