Thaïs

Thaïs is a novel by French writer Anatole France, first published in 1890. The story is set in 4th century Roman Egypt and follows the journey of Paphnutius, a monk from the desert of the Thebaid, who is determined to convert Thaïs, a renowned courtesan and priestess of Aphrodite in Alexandria. Paphnutius believes that by saving Thaïs's soul, he can achieve his own spiritual salvation.

The narrative details Paphnutius's arduous quest to find and persuade Thaïs to abandon her worldly life. He confronts her in her luxurious Alexandrian home, engaging in philosophical and theological debates. Thaïs, initially resistant and accustomed to her life of pleasure and influence, is eventually moved by Paphnutius's fervent conviction and the perceived emptiness of her existence. She agrees to renounce her life and embrace Christianity, entering a convent.

However, the novel does not end with a simple conversion. After Thaïs joins the convent, Paphnutius finds himself increasingly tormented by his memories of her beauty and sensuality, questioning his own motives and the nature of his spiritual quest. He realizes that his desire to save her was perhaps intertwined with a deeper, more earthly fascination. The story explores themes of faith, temptation, the duality of spirituality and sensuality, and the complexities of human desire. Thaïs was later adapted into an opera by Jules Massenet, first performed in 1894.