Thais by Anatole France, Fiction, Suspense

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The book explores the austere lives of desert hermits who resided along the Nile, emphasizing their strict regimen of fasting, temperance, and penitential practices. Living in simple huts, they adhered to a lifestyle devoid of physical pleasures, focusing instead on prayer and self-denial. Their beliefs included the notion that bodily suffering purifies the soul, leading them to embrace discomfort and neglect personal care. The narrative highlights the contrast between their virtuous existence and the less appealing aspects of their rigorous lifestyle.