Nathan the Wise

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtfull, touching, entertaining, classical literature
Review: I first read this book (actually it is a play) in highschool and though I generally hated to be forced to read a book I really loved this one. I finished way ahead of schedule.

The reason: this book is extremely very well and has an up-to-date message even though it was written several 100 years back. The story is abou a Jewish merchant called Nathan, a templar and Nathan's daughter and the love between the templar and the daughter and the conflicts arising from it.

It is set in the time of the crusades and its message is: it does not matter which religion you believe in as long as you are a decent human being. This message was only written in a play because the author was officially forbidden from teaching his reconciliatory views on religion in university! It must have been a hardship for him, but today we can enjoy a literary masterpiece for just that reason. For me it is a perfect book and it might very well be the same for you.