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Aurelian Or Rome In The Third Century: In Letters Of Lucius M. Piso, From Rome, To Fausta, The Daughter Of Gracchus, At Palmyra
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
508 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2007
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March 23, 2022
This novel from 1838 is a sequel to the same author’s Zenobia, or The Fall of Palmyra. Unfortunately, the present work falls far short of its predecessor by, instead of presenting a vibrant cross section of the faiths, peoples and places of the ancient world, rather devolving into an intensely long-winded exposition of the persecution of Christians in Rome. The previous book presented armies battling, desperate rescue efforts carried out across sandy deserts, several developing love affairs and strong contrasts between Platonic, Jewish and Christian outlooks on life. This work instead focuses on how pernicious, mean-spirited and evil were the persecutors of the Christians and how noble, honourable and steadfast was the faith of those who submitted to untold indignities up to an including death on the rack and in the jaws of wild beasts.
Once again, the novel is largely told in an epistolary fashion, with its main character, Lucius Piso, now a full convert to Christianity, writing from Rome to Fausta who is back in Palmyra. In addition. Nicomachus, a slave of Zenobia, who is now resident in Rome, takes up the narrative at points when Piso’s letters have supposedly gone missing. There is a tragic subplot of a couple whose only child, an infant son, unfortunately drowns. This is, however, not really interwoven in any real way with the main narration, which includes page and page of Christian preaching about the glories of God, of death, of faith, of heaven and of the purity and tolerance of outlook to others which is the practice of true Christians. The defence of his faith by Probus before Aurelian goes on for over twenty pages. The passionate and outspoken Christian proponent Macer is well contrasted with the almost devilish Fronto who counsels Aurelian that the atheistic pagans who follow Christ must be totally eradicated.
At times, when Piso’s friends are criticizing the material wealth and excessive cupidity of Felix, the Christian Bishop of Rome, I got the feeling that I was actually reading a sermon by a Methodist minister against the trappings of the High Anglican church in Britain. So little I fear did Ware keep out the present day of early nineteenth century religious controversies from his supposedly historical representation.
If one is to read only one of Ware’s books, read Zenobia, not Aurelian.
Not recommended.
btw: It is possible that the author is some relative of mine, as his surname is the same as that of my maternal grandmother and it was from her family that I inherited this hardback novel.
Once again, the novel is largely told in an epistolary fashion, with its main character, Lucius Piso, now a full convert to Christianity, writing from Rome to Fausta who is back in Palmyra. In addition. Nicomachus, a slave of Zenobia, who is now resident in Rome, takes up the narrative at points when Piso’s letters have supposedly gone missing. There is a tragic subplot of a couple whose only child, an infant son, unfortunately drowns. This is, however, not really interwoven in any real way with the main narration, which includes page and page of Christian preaching about the glories of God, of death, of faith, of heaven and of the purity and tolerance of outlook to others which is the practice of true Christians. The defence of his faith by Probus before Aurelian goes on for over twenty pages. The passionate and outspoken Christian proponent Macer is well contrasted with the almost devilish Fronto who counsels Aurelian that the atheistic pagans who follow Christ must be totally eradicated.
At times, when Piso’s friends are criticizing the material wealth and excessive cupidity of Felix, the Christian Bishop of Rome, I got the feeling that I was actually reading a sermon by a Methodist minister against the trappings of the High Anglican church in Britain. So little I fear did Ware keep out the present day of early nineteenth century religious controversies from his supposedly historical representation.
If one is to read only one of Ware’s books, read Zenobia, not Aurelian.
Not recommended.
btw: It is possible that the author is some relative of mine, as his surname is the same as that of my maternal grandmother and it was from her family that I inherited this hardback novel.
Displaying 1 of 1 review