In his last major novel, published posthumously in 1971, Stefan Andres places the impressive historical figure of Synesius of Cyrene (circa 368-413) at the center. The writer and philosopher attempts to preserve the legacy of Greek antiquity in freedom and tolerance during the transitional period between late antiquity and the Middle Ages. His peaceful life in the countryside is threatened by contradictions and hostilities that ultimately force him to take responsibility. Thus, he finds himself, as a Christian bishop, caught in the dangerous whirlpool of politics: His calling compels him into the role of a political actor, who, in the end, is overwhelmed by the violence of his opponents and fails – a figure that is both tragic and luminous. The novel unfolds against the backdrop of the ancient landscape of North Africa, exploring all the themes of philosophy, theology, and politics that occupied Andres throughout his life.