The Temptation of St. Anthony

by Gustave Flaubert

"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.