Thais of Athens (Tais Afinskaya)

'Thais of Athens' is the most striking work of Russian literature about the world of antiquity, skillfully intertwining historical truth and fiction. This is a remarkable love story about the famous Athenian courtesan, Thais, and the great conqueror, Alexander the Great. The novel's protagonist is the celebrated courtesan, nicknamed 'the fourth Charite' for her intelligence and beauty. She was credited with a powerful influence on the destinies of people and the course of history. Courtesan, Alexander's lover, wife of his closest associate, Ptolemy, and queen of Egypt—such is the path of this remarkable woman. This book is not only the biography of a most beautiful woman and a celebrated man, not simply a captivating narrative, but also a unique compendium of the author's philosophical and aesthetic views, the result of his reflections on what constitutes a complete and harmonious person.