The Nun (Oxford World’s Classics) by Denis Diderot is a gripping tale of a young girl coerced into religious life against her will. This novel, a masterpiece of proto-modernist fiction, blends mysticism, madness, sadistic cruelty, and nascent sexuality to provide a scathing critique of forced vocations and the oppressive nature of convents. First published at the end of the eighteenth century, it sparked controversy as a succès de scandale and continues to unsettle readers with its powerful depiction of oppression and intolerance. This edition includes Diderot’s essential preface, which he positioned at the novel’s conclusion, transforming what initially appears as realist fiction into an emblematic fable that resonates deeply with contemporary readers.