This isn't one novel, but three separate pieces that feel like they're having a conversation with each other. In "Philoctetes," we meet the legendary Greek hero, abandoned on an island with a festering, magical wound. His pain and isolation become his strange power. "The Treatise of the Narcissus" is a poetic, almost dream-like take on the myth, where the youth isn't just vain, but is consumed by the idea of perfect beauty he sees in his reflection. Finally, "El Hadj" follows a devout Muslim on his pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey disrupted by the sudden, overwhelming pull of physical love.

Why You Should Read It

Gide isn't giving easy answers here. He's showing us the cost and the allure of our deepest hungers. Is Philoctetes's wound a curse or the source of his strength? Is Narcissus foolish, or is he a tragic artist in love with an ideal? The prose is sharp and vivid—you can almost feel the island's heat and the coolness of the pool. It’s a book that makes you stop and think about your own reflections, your own hidden wounds, and the things you desire that might just redefine you.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love myth retellings, poetic language, and big philosophical questions wrapped in a small package. It’s also a fantastic, accessible entry point into Gide's world if you've been intimidated by his longer works. Don't rush through it. Savor it, argue with it, and let it sit with you. It’s that kind of book.