<P> Another literary tribute to this parable is Dutch theologian Henri Nouwen's 1992 book, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, in which he describes his own spiritual journey infused with understanding based on an encounter with Rembrandt's painting of the return of the Prodigal and deals with three personages: the younger, prodigal son; the self - righteous, resentful older son; and the compassionate father--all of whom the author identifies with personally . An earlier work with similarities to the parable is "Le retour de l'enfant prodigue" ("The Return of the Prodigal Son"), a short story by André Gide . </P> <P> Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem giving an interpretation of the younger brother's perspective . </P> <P> The Parable of the Prodigal Son is also a recurring theme in the works of Rainer Maria Rilke, who interpreted the parable in a different way to the conventional reading . His version of the parable was not so concerned with redemption and the forgiveness of family; the love of the family, and human love in general, was seen as less worthy than unreciprocated love, which is the purest form of love . In loving the family less, the Son can love God more, even if this love is not returned . </P> <P> The theme of the Prodigal Son plays a major role in Anne Tyler's novel A Spool of Blue Thread . </P>

Parable of the lost son in the bible