Nathan der Weise: Book Guide, Author and Facts

Nathan the Wise (original German title: Nathan der Weise) is the last play published by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. The play was published in 1779; its world premiere took place only in 1783, two years after Lessing's death, at the Döbbelinsches Theater in Berlin. It is a fervent plea for religious tolerance. Set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, just after the 1187 taking of Jerusalem by Saladin (1187), it describes how the wise Jewish merchant Nathan, the enlightened sultan Saladin, and the (initially anonymous) Templar, bridge their gaps between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Its major themes are friendship, religious and social tolerance, the value of inherited traditions of religion (and the damage done when those of different religious persuasions attack each other instead of focusing on the welfare of humankind), the validation of human goodness and moral intelligence as the

Quick facts about Nathan der Weise

• Title: Nathan der Weise
• Author: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
• First published: 1779
• Genre: crusades, drama, enlightenment
• OpenLibrary ID: OL929829W

Where to read Nathan der Weise

Nathan der Weise by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing is widely available in print, ebook and audiobook editions from major retailers and libraries.

Compiled from public OpenLibrary data. Availability and details can change over time.