Thais

In what some critics and fans regard as Anatole France's most accomplished novel, the writer revisits the classic struggle between spiritual faith and sensual pleasures. The story revolves around Thais, a renowned entertainer and confirmed hedonist, and Paphnutius, a zealous prophet who undertakes an arduous journey with the aim of saving Thais' soul and setting her on a path toward righteousness -- only to find his own faith shaken to the core.