Nathan the Wise by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
"Nathan the Wise" is a 18th-century play that explores religious tolerance and interfaith understanding. The story is set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade and revolves around Nathan, a wealthy Jewish merchant, who is renowned for his wisdom and generosity. The narrative explores themes of religious tolerance as Nathan interacts with a Templar knight, a Christian patriarch, and the Muslim sultan Saladin. The story culminates with the revelation that the main characters, despite their different faiths, are all part of the same family, thus promoting a message of shared humanity and religious coexistence.
The 6020th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 35th on From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays (The Guardian)
- The 100 Best Books in the World (AbeBooks.de (in German))
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)