Often cited in conjunction with Memoirs of Hadrian as a notable literary achievement, Yourcenar's most widely read and translated work is The Abyss (1968). Similar in thematic concerns, both novels center on a single protagonist seeking self-awareness and enlightenment within the milieu of a historical period and supported by a diversified cast of secondary characters providing authenticity and plot development. Set in the mid-sixteenth century of northern Europe, The Abyss examines the concept of choice, juxtaposing intellectual and spiritual freedom with the limitations imposed by a repressive society. The central character of the novel is the physician Zeno whose experimentation with.....
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