{"product_id":"marius-the-epicurean-by-walter-pater","title":"Marius the Epicurean by Walter Pater","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMarius the Epicurean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (1885) by \u003cb\u003eWalter Pater\u003c\/b\u003e is a philosophical and semi-autobiographical novel set in the Roman Empire during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It follows the intellectual and spiritual journey of \u003cb\u003eMarius\u003c\/b\u003e, a sensitive and thoughtful young Roman who seeks meaning in life through art, philosophy, and religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eInitially drawn to \u003cb\u003eEpicureanism\u003c\/b\u003e, Marius pursues beauty and personal serenity as guiding principles. However, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with its limitations. Over time, he explores \u003cb\u003eStoicism\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003ePlatonism\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eearly Christianity\u003c\/b\u003e, all while observing the decline of pagan Rome and the stirrings of a new spiritual world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe novel is less about plot and more about \u003cb\u003einner transformation\u003c\/b\u003e—a meditation on how one might live a good and beautiful life. Ultimately, Marius does not convert to Christianity but comes to admire its ideals, dying quietly in pursuit of a moral, reflective, and compassionate life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HI;\"\u003ePater’s richly aesthetic style and emphasis on \u003cb\u003esensibility, moral choice, and the soul’s development\u003c\/b\u003e make this a landmark work in English Decadent literature\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lushena","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":51686977503512,"sku":null,"price":28.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":51686977536280,"sku":null,"price":46.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0787\/8203\/8296\/files\/BookMockup1_e9d80aa0-c61b-48d0-b10e-d1c1381f45b5.jpg?v=1771133618","url":"https:\/\/lushenabooksinc.com\/products\/marius-the-epicurean-by-walter-pater","provider":"Lushena","version":"1.0","type":"link"}