Nathan the Wise; a dramatic poem in five acts (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. An Enlightenment Drama of Jerusalem, Interfaith Dialogue, and the Ring ParableBy Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Length5h 20m
About this audiobook
Set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, Nathan the Wise unfolds as a dramatic poem in five acts in which Jew, Muslim, and Christian confront the claims of faith, kinship, and moral truth. Lessing's lucid, dialogic style—elevated yet humane—culminates in the famous "Ring Parable," a masterpiece of Enlightenment drama that transforms religious controversy into an inquiry into ethical conduct, tolerance, and shared humanity. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, one of the central figures of the German Enlightenment, wrote the play amid fierce theological disputes and after being constrained in public religious debate. His friendship with the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, together with his lifelong opposition to dogmatism and clerical intolerance, deeply informs Nathan's character and the work's plea for reasoned compassion over sectarian certainty. This book is essential for readers interested in European drama, religious pluralism, and the intellectual history of modern tolerance. Both philosophically rich and theatrically compelling, Nathan the Wise rewards close reading as a work that speaks not only to Lessing's century but urgently to our own.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length5 hrs 20 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 22, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
9ACT I.
2Introduction
10ACT II.
3Synopsis
11ACT III.
4Historical Context
12ACT IV.
5Author Biography
13ACT V.
Show all chaptersShow less
6INTRODUCTION
14Analysis
7Nathan the Wise .
15Reflection
8DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
16Memorable Quotes
More from Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gesammelte Dramen: Nathan der Weise + Emilia Galotti + Minna von Barnhelm + Miss Sara Sampson + Die Juden + Der junge Gelehrte + Der Freigeist + Philotas + Der Misogyn und mehr (Kommentiert)Gotthold Ephraim Lessing30h 17m$2 · $0.00
Emilia Galotti (Kommentiert)Gotthold Ephraim Lessing4h 36m$1 · $0.00
FabelnGotthold Ephraim Lessing4h 5m$11 · $0.00
Gesammelte Fabeln in einem Band (Kommentiert)Gotthold Ephraim Lessing3h 20m$1 · $0.00
Gesammelte Gedichte (Kommentiert)Gotthold Ephraim Lessing3h 1m$1 · $0.00
Minna Von BarnhelmGotthold Ephraim Lessing3h 35m$1 · $0.00
OdenGotthold Ephraim Lessing33m$2 · $0.00
LaocoonGotthold Ephraim Lessing7h 40m$1 · $0.00
Nathan the Wise; a dramatic poem in five actsGotthold Ephraim Lessing4h 55m$1 · $0.00
Nathan ViisasGotthold Ephraim Lessing3h 23m$2 · $0.00
Die Erziehung des MenschengeschlechtsGotthold Ephraim Lessing2h 12m$1 · $0.00
Emilia GalottiGotthold Ephraim Lessing4h 23m$1 · $0.00
Lieder von LessingGotthold Ephraim Lessing1h 15m$1 · $0.00
Gesammelte DramenGotthold Ephraim Lessing29h 5m$2 · $0.00
Minna Von BarnhelmGotthold Ephraim Lessing1h 35m$2 · $0.00
Gesammelte GedichteGotthold Ephraim Lessing1h 49m$2 · $0.00
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: Die große Hörbuch BoxGotthold Ephraim Lessing15h 25m$35 · $0.00
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: Emilia Galotti. Ungekürzt gelesen mit InterpretationshilfeGotthold Ephraim Lessing, Lektüreliste, 5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche, Abitur Literatur3h 57m$12 · $0.00
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: Meisterwerke der ErzählkunstGotthold Ephraim Lessing15h 15m$24 · $0.00
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen & Brontë Sisters (Annotated)Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë204h 15m$0.99 · $0.00
The Complete Works: Charlotte, Emily, Anne, Patrick & Branwell BrontëCharlotte Brontë, Anne Brontë, Emily Brontë138h 12m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde (Annotated)Oscar Wilde126h 19m$2 · $0.00
L. M. Montgomery – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & MemoirsLucy Maud Montgomery155h 1m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Works of the Brontë Family Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë140h 13m$2 · $0.00
MARK TWAIN: 12 Novels, 195 Short Stories, Autobiography, 10 Travel Books, 160+ Essays & Speeches (Illustrated)Mark Twain415h 9m5.0 (2)$2 · $0.00
This Side of Paradise - The Original 1920 Edition (Annotated)F. Scott Fitzgerald11h 30m$2 · $0.00
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m$18 · $0.00
The Complete Works: Novels, Short Stories, Plays, Articles, Essays, Travel Sketches and Memoirs (Annotated)Anthony Trollope1096h 4m$0.99 · $0.00
Ivanhoe (Annotated)Walter Scott22h 52m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Works of G. K. Chesterton (Annotated)G. K. Chesterton421h 37m$1.99 · $0.00
All NovelsGeorge Orwell53h 48m$10 · $0.00
The Complete Works of TolstoyLeo Tolstoy412h 44m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Annotated)Louisa May Alcott226h 24m$0.99 · $0.00
Sherlock Holmes series - completeArthur Conan54h 8m$3.50 · $0.00
The Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin2h 25m$15
The Count of Monte Cristo (With Original Illustrations)Alexandre Dumas54h$1 · $0.00
H. P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft50h 45m$2 · $0.00
Braving the TruthRachel Held Evans11h 31m$29 · $0.00
The Complete Novels of Charlotte Brontë (Annotated)Charlotte Brontë80h 44m$0.99 · $0.00
You may also like
Toni at RandomDana A. Williams10h 37m$29 · $0.00
In the Shadow of a QueenHeather B. Moore11h 9m$20
Vanity Fair: December 2014 IssueVanity Fair4h 58m$7
The House of Lords and the nationPhilip Vernon Smith1h 43m$1 · $0.00
VanderbiltAnderson Cooper, Katherine Howe8h 51m$29 · $0.00
The Wisdom of Confucius with Critical and Biographical SketchesConfucius5h 9m$2 · $0.00
The Nine of UsJean Kennedy Smith5h 27m$24 · $0.00
The Life of Florence Nightingale (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)Edward Tyas Cook41h 32m$2 · $0.00
Home Life in TokyoJukichi Inouye10h 11m$2.30
TroublemakerCarla Kaplan16h 58m$40 · $0.00
The Four Books of ConfucianismAnonymous, Mencius13h 34m$1 · $0.00
The Book of Filial DutyConfucius Confucius1h 18m$3.50 · $0.00
Mencius (Annotated)Mencius8h 58m$2 · $0.00
Johann Sebastian BachLudwig Ziemssen1h 1m$1 · $0.00
AutobiographyMargaret Sanger21h 43m$2 · $0.00
A Rome of One's OwnEmma Southon14h$27
Take the LeadBetsy Myers6h 6m$20 · $0.00
HarryAngela Levin8h 21m$20
THE HISTORY-MAKERS: Lives & Achievements of Women Warriors, Leaders, Artists & Pioneers (Annotated)Rupert Sargent Holland, Kate Dickinson Sweetser, Rebecca Deming Moore29h 28m$2 · $0.00
ReclamationGayle Jessup White9h$29 · $0.00