
by Anatole France
THAIS
THAIS
PART THE FIRST — THE LOTUS
PART THE SECOND — THE PAPYRUS
THE BANQUET
PART THE THIRD — THE EUPHORBIA
In the sun‑bleached sweep of the Egyptian desert, solitary monks cling to fragile huts of reed and clay, their lives a delicate balance of prayer, fasting and quiet labor. The narrative paints a vivid tableau of ascetics who wrestle nightly with unseen forces, as angels and demons assume human and animal guises to test their resolve. Through crisp, lyrical prose the scene comes alive with the rustle of palm‑fiber work, the solemn toll of distant church bells, and the haunting echo of hymns carried on the wind.
Against this stark backdrop, the story introduces a cadre of holy men whose very presence seems to bend nature itself—lions dig graves, the earth opens for the wicked, and the desert becomes a battlefield of soul and spirit. Their austere rituals and fierce devotion create a world where the ordinary and the supernatural intersect, inviting listeners to step into a realm of ancient mysticism, moral struggle, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (290K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Dagny; John Bickers and David Widger
Release date
2006-03-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1844–1924
Known for elegant irony and clear-eyed skepticism, this French Nobel laureate wrote novels, essays, and criticism that helped shape literary life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work often mixes wit, history, and a quietly sharp sense of justice.
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by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France

by Anatole France