Publisher's Synopsis
Lessing's Nathan the Wise is a play that was first published in 1779. It is set in Jerusalem during the Crusades and follows the story of Nathan, a wise Jewish merchant, and his interactions with a Christian knight named Templar and a Muslim leader named Saladin. The play explores themes of religious tolerance, wisdom, and the nature of truth. Nathan is known for his parable of the three rings, which illustrates the idea that no one religion has a monopoly on truth. The play is considered a classic of German literature and has been adapted for the stage and screen numerous times. This edition of the play was published in 1901 and includes an introduction and notes by the translator, William Taylor.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
