“The Chosen One” is one of the most subtle, fascinating and at the same time philosophical works of Thomas Mann, stylized as a medieval story. Thomas Mann’s main source was the poem “Gregory the Stylite” by the German poet Hartmann von Aue, the plot of which the author adheres to in the novel . In addition to this poem, in “The Chosen One,” according to Mann’s own testimony, the courtly epic “Parzival” by Wolfram von Eschenbach, ancient songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the “Song of the Nibelungs” received a parodic re-interpretation. So, there once lived a Duke of Flanders and Artois, and He and the Duchess had no children. But one day God (or maybe the devil) had mercy on the couple - the duchess gave birth to twins. They were destined to secretly love each other and give birth to the fruit of this terrible sin - a son named Gregorius, who was to experience many strange adventures, do many deeds, both bad and good, and become famous under the nickname “Holy Sinner”...