Desert : A legend by Martin Armstrong
QR code
"Desert: A Legend" by Martin Armstrong is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers on Malchus, a young man from an elite Alexandrian family, who abandons his comfortable urban life in pursuit of spiritual meaning and personal transformation during the era of early Christianity. The book examines the tensions between worldly pleasures, intellectual pursuits, religious faith, and the desire for ascetic renunciation, weaving these themes into Malchus's journey
toward the desert and his interactions with the hermit Serapion. The opening of the novel follows Malchus as he leaves his family and city behind, propelled by inner turmoil stemming from a failed love affair with the beautiful Helena and a growing aversion to the empty sophistication of his social circle. Scenes shift from his solitary walk through the sun-baked streets of Alexandria, to a philosophical dinner party hosted by his friend Diocles, to a fateful encounter with the enigmatic hermit Serapion. Malchus, disillusioned by pleasure and reason alike, is drawn to the austere world of the desert monks. He follows Serapion across the lake and into the wilderness, enduring physical exhaustion and spiritual distress as he seeks admission to a life of solitude and divine discipline. The opening vividly conveys Malchus’s psychological transformation, his longing for escape from worldly entanglements, and the daunting challenges that accompany his quest for spiritual authenticity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
Kobo, Nook etc → Transfer via USB
Phone, tablet or computer → Open in a reading app
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Armstrong, Martin, 1882-1974 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Ravilious, Eric, 1903-1942 |
| LoC No. | 26016087 |
| Title | Desert : A legend |
| Original Publication | New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1926. |
| Credits | Al Haines |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 73.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Christian fiction |
| Subject | Hermits -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 75705 |
| Release Date | Mar 24, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 323 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!