In the Rome of the emperor Vitellius, Esca, a British captive trained to the arena, falls in love with a Jewish girl, Mariamne, while a scheming Roman lady and the turmoil of the year of four emperors draw them into danger. The story moves to Judaea and the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, with the worship of Isis, the gladiatorial schools and the legions all vividly drawn.
A full-blooded Victorian historical romance, ancestor of the sword-and-sandal epic. Download the free EPUB.