Herodias is a novel by Gustave Flaubert, first published in 1877. The book is a retelling of the story of John the Baptist's beheading, as recounted in the New Testament. The novel is set in the court of King Herod Antipas, who is married to Herodias, the former wife of his brother Philip. Herodias is consumed with hatred for John the Baptist, who has publicly condemned her marriage as incestuous. Herodias plots to have John killed, but Herod is reluctant to carry out the execution due to his fear of divine retribution. The novel explores themes of power, desire, and morality, as well as the corrupting influence of ambition and revenge. Flaubert's prose is characterized by its vivid imagery, rich detail, and psychological depth. Herodias is considered one of Flaubert's lesser-known works, but it remains an important contribution to the canon of French literature.In the eastern side of the Dead Sea rose the citadel of Machaerus. It was built upon a conical peak of basalt, and was surrounded by four deep valleys, one on each side, another in front, and the fourth in the rear. At the base of the citadel, crowding against one another, a group of houses stood within the circle of a wall, whose outlines undulated with the unevenness of the soil.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.