Quo Vadis?

Although I am not a Christian, or otherwise religious, I have to say that Quo Vadis is one of the most moving and emotional novels I have read. It is also quite different in several important respects from the 1950 film, great all time screen favourite of mine though that is. In the book, Vinicius is terrible before his conversion, his love for Lygia being more of a sadistic desire to control and dominate her, a desire that leads him, for example, to kill outright in a moment of anger a slave who nursed him as a child. I assume for the film they thought that it would not be a success if Robert Taylor as a square-jawed hero was seen doing/saying such things. By the same token, after his conversion, he is far more evangelical than portrayed on screen. In general, much of the same events happen on screen and in the book, but in the latter they happen far more intensely - the sufferings of the Christians in the amphitheatre and on the crosses being a particularly moving and disturbing case in point, with quite surprisingly graphic detail for a 19th century novel.

Other minor differences - Aulus (not a Christian in the book) and Pomponia play a lesser role and fade out of the narrative fairly early on. Poppea is a very minor character in the book, Paul of Tarsus a more major one and who seems to meet his martyrdom despite being a Roman citizen.

If one can overlook the fact that many modern scholars do not believe that Nero did actually start the Great Fire of Rome, this is a great historical novel for anyone interested in ancient Rome or early Christianity

One of the greatest books written (17/17 people found this helpful)

It is a shame that this book is not as well known as it was once for it is a towering masterpiece for many different reasons, in my view. It gives an incredibly evocative picture of ancient Rome and the first Christians. I cannot think of many other books that do the same for this period of history. Indeed, the descriptions of the horrors in the latter stages of the book, the mass torture/murder of Christians, is done very powerfully and made them very real for me. In fact the book made me see how very similar ancient Rome is to our own world. The story line is exciting and gripping from beginning to end. There are many lovely characters and an equal number of unpleasant and scheming characters. Maybe some of them are not always completely realistic but this does not really matter. The writing is a joy to read, clear and straightforward. After all, the author did win the Nobel Prize (though these days that is not always a recommendation that he or she will be easy to understand!) This book was written a hundred years ago before the rise of postmodernism and before the horrors of the 20th century. The characters in it are wonderfully idealistic and to a postmodern and postchristian world they might seem out of place. Yet, I must say that I was quite affected by the Christian idealism and it could be that this book does still have a message for our own times. Whatever the case, Sienkiewicz deserves to be rediscovered today. I am sure that his writing should be placed among the classics in world literature. His books remind me of the books I read when I was a child, full of adventure and excitement. I am going to spend the rest of the year catching up on his others.

Quite possibly one of the best books ever! (4/4 people found this helpful)

If you are interested in the Roman era, then this is a must read. A gripping tale from cover to cover - beautifully crafted and wonderfully told.

Pagans were alive; Christians wish they weren't. (3/9 people found this helpful)

The conflict between paganism and Christianity has never before been better dramatized than in this breathtaking novel. It's only a shame that Rome traded Petronius for Peter.

It's the former that makes this novel for me. A real Roman, whose last days are recorded by Tacitus, Petronius is in the unenviable position of being the Supreme Critic of Taste during the reign of the supremely tasteless and supremely powerful Nero. Meanwhile, the old Roman high culture he embodies is being destroyed by blood-engorged Imperial parasites on one hand and by bloodless Christians on the other. O tempora! O mores! What's a good Roman to do?

This novel would receive a 10 if only I hadn't had to endure the authors' obvious sentimentalism for the spiritual destroyers of the world's greatest Empire.

If you are looking for a good historical book, this is it. (3/4 people found this helpful)

I read this book from cover to cover several times in my life and it always was a pleasure. Reading this book I always felt as being there. The book is based on history of our civilization and it will give you an easy way of studying it. If you saw the movie you will be surprised how much you missed.

Henryk Sienkiewicz

Reader Reviews:

Very moving and emotional (5/5 people found this helpful)

One of the greatest books written (17/17 people found this helpful)

Quite possibly one of the best books ever! (4/4 people found this helpful)

Pagans were alive; Christians wish they weren't. (3/9 people found this helpful)

If you are looking for a good historical book, this is it. (3/4 people found this helpful)

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