The novel is set in a “time of troubles” characterized by political corruption, Goth invasions, and the persecution of early Christians. The story follows the life of Favorinus Herennius, a wealthy, intelligent young Roman who is the Emperor’s nephew and speechwriter.Â
Dissatisfied with the superficial materialism of his family and the hollow intellectualism of his mistress, Charis, Favorinus searches for a meaningful existence. His path crosses with a Christian household, including his kinswoman Paulina, with whom he falls in love.Â
As Emperor Decius intensifies the persecution of Christians (referred to as “confessors of the name”), Favorinus’s involvement with the Christian community puts him in danger. The novel details his journey through the various levels of Roman society, from opulent palaces to hovels and prisons, as he tries to protect Paulina and grapple with his own beliefs. Ultimately, Favorinus finds the significance he seeks within the burgeoning Christian faith, which survives the collapse of the dying Roman civilization.
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