Rating: 
Summary: Another Sienkiewicz Masterpiece
Review: "Quo Vadis" is another outstanding book by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It was a little slow to get started, but it built steadily over time, until I couldn't put it down. Looking back on it, the slow steady build actually gave more depth to the story, as it gave me a deeper sense of knowing the characters as if I knew them personally. This seems to be a real talent of Sienkiewicz. The two books I have read by him "Quo Vadi" and "The Teutonic Knights" have had some of the most endearing characters of any books I have read.
I was a bit concerned the parts of the story about the early Christians would have a prosylitizing feel, but they didn't. Sienkiewicz stayed focused on his characters, and conveyed the history of the early Christains no differently than he conveyed other aspects of ancient Roman history. I did come away though, with a new understanding of the early Christians as real people, not just part of a religion.
Overall, this was an excellent book. Slow to start, and not quite as good as "The Teutonic Knights", but deeply satisfying as I turned the last page.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece of Literature
Review: A great story of faith,political intrigue,and romance during the bloody reign of the Roman emperor Nero.Vinicius, a Roman aristocrat, falls in love with a simple Christian household slave and uses his uncle's influence to get her which at first alienates her and arouses the attention of mad Nero who begins the bloody persecutions of Christians and non-flatterers. In the end Vinicius questions his faith, his lifestyle, and indeed the whole world of the Roman Empire. Characters in story are superb and many are historically real. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: Not suitable for those who have little patience :-)
Review: As a Polish teenager, i had to read this book in gr 7, two years ago that is. I remember finding it boring, and although reading is very high on my top 10 favorite past times, "Quo Vadis" was a real torture.I thought this was annoyingly sentimental. However, after i moved out of Poland a year ago, my patriotism kicked in and made me go over Polish classics once again. Trying not to be too pretentious, i'll only say this is a beautiful, poignant, deeply moving piece of writing. Persecution of Christians may not be the most fascinating theme ever, but Sienkiewicz made it vibrate in reader's hands. The idea itself is not original, but there's something unique about "Quo Vadis". Hard to verbalize...just read it! Worth a day of your life! At 15 i felt i was patient and mature enough to enjoy every page. Wouldn't recommend it to younger people though.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels of all time
Review: Excellent novel describing the struggle of early Christianity under the tyrannical and mad Emperor Nero. It's also a beautiful love story, the love of a handsome but troubled Roman soldier who has to give up his old ways of thinking for a beautiful Christian girl. This book really makes you think and does a wonderful job of showing the contrast between the simple truths of the early Christians and the debauchery that permeates the word. Petronius is the most memorable character, with his sarcastic, dry sense of humor and his ability to control the vanity of Nero. One of the best novels I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Equivalent to a top-class fast paced thriller
Review: Given that Mr Sienkiewicz won the Nobel literary prize for mainly this work, that alone is a pretty good bet for reading it. Written in the 1890's, this book is seen as one of the world's first "bestseller" novels, and is definitely an epic of, well, epic proportions.Unfortunately, the book does suffer slightly as a result of the translation, as noted by an earlier reviewer, so if you can read Polish, do get the original version. Nevertheless, although the book starts off a tad slow, think of the beginning as a push off from a cliff, because after that it's as fast paced a thriller as money can buy. A basic exposure to Roman and Christian history will make the book really come alive. Although certain "facts" are not correct, or have been omitted, remember that the book is meant to be fiction. The historical events are merely a platform for a passionate love story between a pagan Roman and a Christian girl. However, it is the seeming impossibility of this love, together with descriptions of the nearly moronic Roman "royal court", keeps you reading well into the night. The emotional roller-coaster makes you, the reader, feel exhausted. Definitely recommended, and one of the most enjoyable books I've read. If you liked this, do check out his other novels - especially the brilliant "Teutonic Knights" which is another epic of a young Polish knight (and of course a lovely maiden or two thrown in for good measure) and the history of middle ages Poland up to the battle of Grunwald where the Teutonic Knights were defeated.
Rating:
Summary: Equivalent to a top-class fast paced thriller
Review: Given that Mr Sienkiewicz won the Nobel literary prize for mainly this work, that alone is a pretty good bet for reading it. Written in the 1890's, this book is seen as one of the world's first "bestseller" novels, and is definitely an epic of, well, epic proportions. Unfortunately, the book does suffer slightly as a result of the translation, as noted by an earlier reviewer, so if you can read Polish, do get the original version. Nevertheless, although the book starts off a tad slow, think of the beginning as a push off from a cliff, because after that it's as fast paced a thriller as money can buy. A basic exposure to Roman and Christian history will make the book really come alive. Although certain "facts" are not correct, or have been omitted, remember that the book is meant to be fiction. The historical events are merely a platform for a passionate love story between a pagan Roman and a Christian girl. However, it is the seeming impossibility of this love, together with descriptions of the nearly moronic Roman "royal court", keeps you reading well into the night. The emotional roller-coaster makes you, the reader, feel exhausted. Definitely recommended, and one of the most enjoyable books I've read. If you liked this, do check out his other novels - especially the brilliant "Teutonic Knights" which is another epic of a young Polish knight (and of course a lovely maiden or two thrown in for good measure) and the history of middle ages Poland up to the battle of Grunwald where the Teutonic Knights were defeated.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Having been a huge fan of Robert Graves' I Claudius and Claudius the God, I was always sad that Graves did not write a sequel to highlight the reign of the last Augustan ruler. Many times reading Quo Vadis, I felt like this was that book. It does give a good insight to the decadence of Nero's reign along with some references to his predecessors. It also clarified some often-misrepresented assumptions like all gladiatorial competitions taking place in the Colosseum. We learn that Nero pre-dated the Colosseum and in fact, the battles were staged in a large "wooden" arena. Some of the action has some good vivid descriptions such as the burning of Rome and some of the gladiatorial fights. The book also gives a glimpse at what Christianity could have been. We see how the disciples Peter and Paul worshipped their religion in a way that is totally unlike anything today. The characters are excellent and the book never gets boring.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Having been a huge fan of Robert Graves' I Claudius and Claudius the God, I was always sad that Graves did not write a sequel to highlight the reign of the last Augustan ruler. Many times reading Quo Vadis, I felt like this was that book. It does give a good insight to the decadence of Nero's reign along with some references to his predecessors. It also clarified some often-misrepresented assumptions like all gladiatorial competitions taking place in the Colosseum. We learn that Nero pre-dated the Colosseum and in fact, the battles were staged in a large "wooden" arena. Some of the action has some good vivid descriptions such as the burning of Rome and some of the gladiatorial fights. The book also gives a glimpse at what Christianity could have been. We see how the disciples Peter and Paul worshipped their religion in a way that is totally unlike anything today. The characters are excellent and the book never gets boring.
Rating:
Summary: This Is A Great Inspiration
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It made me feel closer to God and the characters came to life. Lygia, Petronius, Vinicious, and Eurydice are all very extremely well written characters. This book is great, especially for those who need inspiration for faith. Buy it now!!!
Rating:
Summary: Bre's
Review: I believe that this is one of the best books ever written Its major prop line is typical of the time: a young man falls in love with a young woman and vica versa but they cannot be together. Sigh. It is the circumstances, as well as the secondary plot lines that give this book incredible power. It is a mirrored reflection of modern times. A demoralised society whitewashed to the outside world, but inside it is decadent, amoral and corrupt. It is against this background that a young tribune, Marcus Vinicius meets Lygia, the adopted daughter of a Roman general and decides that he wants her as his mistress. Lygia, however, is a Christian. The characters in this novel are many, some fictional, others factual, and all have an immense impact on the development and effect of the story. Firstly, there is Marcus Vinicius, who believes that he must get the best out of life. He does not understand the Christians who allow the wishes of their God to prevent them from participating in the pleasures he has indulged himself in all his life. Then there is Lygia, a dedicated Christian who desperately tries to explain her faith and the joy and new life it brings to a disbelieving Marcus, and is confused when he does not seem to feel what she feels and see what she sees. Petronius is probably the best realised modern character of all. He is a satirical, well-educated man who is quite ready to believe that Christ existed and that He is powerful above all, but has no intention of following Jesus because it will mean disrupting his way of life. Chilo is another. He is one who thinks that he understands Christianity but really does not because he was failed to percieve the beliefs, the concepts, and the soul of the faith, and thus has missed the whole point of the Christian religion. This is a very well written. Unfortunately, some parts of the translation fall completely flat, while other fairly ring with power. A very satisfying read.
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