| Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Vinicius, a Roman patrician just returned from the wars in
Armenia, falls in love with Lygia, a hostage taken in the
northern wars and adopted by noble patricians Aulus and
Pomponia Graecia. Little did he suspect, though, that Lygia
is a Christian; he and his uncle, Petronius, react to this
as typical pagan Romans, and seek to take Lygia for Vinicius
by force. Over time, however, Vinicius changes, while
Petronius doesn't. The author presents a vivid picture of
the grandeur and corruption of Nero's Rome, and an
incredibly compelling narrative of how the viewpoints of
Vinicius and Petronius diverge as Vinicius approaches the
new faith. Exploring the great fire and subsequent
persecution, this novel is an excellent read.
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