The Temptation of St. Antony is a profound work that deeply influenced the young Freud and served as an inspiration for many artists. This book was Flaubert's lifelong endeavor, taking thirty years to complete.

Based on the story of the third-century saint who lived on an isolated mountaintop in the Egyptian desert, it presents a fantastical narrative of one night during which Anthony is besieged by carnal temptations and philosophical doubt.