The Temptation of Saint Anthony

The Temptation of Saint Anthony is a novel by French writer Gustave Flaubert published in 1874, which tells the story of the legendary third-century Christian monk, Saint Anthony, and his struggles with temptation and doubt. The book is divided into several hallucinatory and surrealistic episodes in which Saint Anthony is subjected to various temptations and trials by the devil, who takes on the form of various creatures and deities from pagan mythology. These include seductive women, grotesque monsters, and even the personification of reason and science. Throughout the book, Saint Anthony's faith is tested as he battles against his own desires, doubts, and fears. As the story progresses, Saint Anthony is eventually able to resist the devil's temptations and reaffirm his faith, ultimately achieving a sense of spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.

This translation by Lafcadio Hearn was first published in 1910.