Quo Vadis

"Quo Vadis" is a historical novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It tells of a love between a young Christian woman and a Roman patrician in Rome, under the rule of emperor Nero, c. AD 64. The main characters is Marcus Vinicius, a military tribune and Roman patrician who recently returned to Rome. On his arrival, he meets and falls in love with Ligia. He seeks the counsel of his uncle Petronius to find a way to possess her.


Ligia, the daughter of a deceased king of a barbarian tribe, is technically a hostage of the Senate and people of Rome, and was forgotten years ago by her own people. A great beauty, she has converted to Christianity, but her religion is originally unknown to Marcus.


Gaius Petronius, former governor of Bithynia, is a member of Nero's court who uses his wit to flatter and mock him at the same time. Somewhat amoral and a bit lazy, he tries to help his nephew, but his cunning plan is thwarted by Ligia's Christian friends. Nero and the apostles Peter and Paul also appear.


Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916) was a Polish journalist, novelist and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. He is best remembered for his internationally known best-seller "Quo Vadis".