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.