Quo Vadis [Hardcover]

Henryk Sienkiewicz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2006

Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916) won the 1905 Nobel Prize in Literature. A brilliant Polish writer and patriot, he is possibly best known abroad for his monumental historical epic Quo Vadis that portrays the vibrant and dissonant combination of cruel excesses and decadence of Rome during the reign of the corrupt Emperor Nero and the high faith of the emerging era of early Christianity.

Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero, is a love story of Marcus Vinicius, a passionate young Roman tribune, and Lygia Callina, a beautiful and gentle Christian maiden of royal Lygian descent and a hostage of Rome, raised in a patrician home. At first Marcus, a typical aristocratic Roman libertine of his time, has no notion of love and merely desires Lygia with erotic animalistic intensity. Through political machinations of the elegant Petronius he contrives to have her taken by force from her foster home and into the decadent and terrible splendor of the court of Ceasar, setting in motion a course of events that culminate in his own spiritual redemption.

Intricately researched, populated with vibrant historical figures, and gorgeous period detail, bloody spectacle and intimate beauty, this is an epic tapestry of the triumph of love, faith and sacrifice.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 596 pages
• Publisher: Norilana Books (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934169064
• ISBN-13: 978-1934169063
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Classic, June 26, 2009

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Steven H. Hoskins (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quo Vadis (Hardcover)

Although written from a Roman Catholic perspective, I, not being a Catholic, absolutely loved it. It was both beautiful and horrible. It opened my eyes to the miracle of the early Christian church.

I wept and rejoiced and didn't want it to end. A must read for every Christian or anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the Christian faith.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars book for everyone, January 20, 2010

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A. Libera "Gata" (Farmington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quo Vadis (Hardcover)

Written at the end of XIX century, this book is for everyone, not only for christians. The Author got Noble prize in Literature mainly for this book, so it it worth reading if only for that. Besides, it is one of the books that every classic literature lover should know. This is a historical novel, but it has everything: adventure, love, danger and heroism. I would not recomend it for children, of course, it has too much brutality, but older teens are ready to read it. For me it found permanent room on the bookshelf. It is one of those books that you like to come back to from time to time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Read, July 9, 2010

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S. Cardaronella (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quo Vadis (Hardcover)

This book was beautiful, disturbing, and illuminating. Since childhood I have heard of the persecution of the early Christians under Nero so often that the story ceased to move me as it should. No longer.