Cover of The Temptation of St. Anthony

The Temptation of St. Anthony

by Gustave Flaubert

Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"The Temptation of St. Anthony" by Gustave Flaubert is a dramatic poem in prose published in 1874. Written in the form of a play script, it recounts one night in the Egyptian desert where Saint Anthony the Great faces a series of profound temptations. Through encounters with figures ranging from the Queen of Sheba to his former student Hilarion, Anthony confronts the Seven Deadly Sins, ancient gods, heretics, and monsters—all challenging his belief that isolation is the truest form of worship.

  • Biographical fiction
  • Christian fiction
  • Egypt
  • Anthony, of Egypt, Saint, approximately 250-355 or 356
  • Christian saints

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #52225. The Temptation of St. Anthony on Wikipedia.

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