Quo Vadis

By: Henryk Sienkiewicz

Narrated by: Peter Wickham

Length: 24 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Quo Vadis, best known for its star-studded 1951 film version, was first published in 1896 and contributed to the author’s Nobel Prize for Literature of 1905.

Set in the latter years of the reign of Roman Emperor Nero, the plot concerns the love between a young Christian woman, Lygia, and a Roman patrician, Marcus Vinicius. Sienkiewicz was said to have been inspired to write the novel when visiting the Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis, and the novel is strongly imbued with a pro-Christian sentiment, along with many detailed descriptions of the opulence and debauchery of Nero’s Rome. It is informative, exciting, and ultimately uplifting!

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2021 Naxos AudioBooks UK Ltd.

Gave Me Moments of Introspection

This book gave me a greater appreciation of how radical early Christianity was in the Roman world and the trials/tribulations that quickly followed. Like reading “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (whom the Nazis killed) back in college, it deepened my faith. I could feel what it would be like to live in a world of many Gods while proclaiming a one True God. And could feel the criticisms like “if your God is so powerful, why doesn’t He show up” or how hard faith would be as pretty much all of the Christians were executed (horrifically, I will add) and had no future in this world. Yet that very belief in the after life was a stark contrast to both the hedonism and stoicism of the Culture. Also, hard to grapple with how much the belief was that Jesus would return any day now, yet 2000 years later: here we are. Some issues of ethics and morality are very much 1st century so for the most part I found the protagonist to be off-putting, though this enlighten me on how much of a contrast the Christian movement was from the morals of that society. Repentance and forgiveness are more than academic when the crimes committed are murder and abuse. Also, I liked that Peter and Paul are part of the Story. “Modern” Christianity often has the two of them in tension with each other and neat to read how they worked together for the Kingdom in harmony. Also, they are contrasted by another Christian leader that probably is best described as being legalistic and the contrast there was pretty fascinating to see. Politics hasn’t changed much in 2000 years. 😬 The 🐂 scene was a great climax to the book.

Magnificent

Magnificent story of a time of horror, heartbreak, courageous faith and sacrifice which seems increasingly relevant in our times. Also excellent narration!

Excellent Narration

I loved the narration, the way each character had a distinct and fitting voice pulled the story along. I will be looking for other books read by Peter Wickham.

As for the story itself - it is long! I obviously knew before how many hours it was, the long I mean is that it feels long because of an abundant writing style. If you like a lot of descriptions of everything and everybody, historic, dramatic novels, this is for you. Just keep in mind, it is a novel and thereby fiction not fact.

I was interested in the book because of when it was written: during the occupation of Poland by Russia and therefore can also be read as a suppressed people - in the novel the Christians/at the time of publication: the Poles - ultimately overcoming the forces of oppression - the Romans or in the real life of the readers: the Russian Tzar. Furthermore, Sienkiewicz novels were apparently reread during the German occupation of Poland in World War II, again with the mindset of a suppressed people overcoming the terror of their Nazi oppressors. In this sense I found the book really interesting, I could see how this story would be inspirational. It is very black and white: the Christians are beyond good, while Nero and Romans are overwhelmingly vile or at least bad with the exception of the character of Petronious. In the context of the moral black-white picture painted by the book and when the book was written, it isn't surprising that the book has strong antisemitic stereotypes, which were common in Poland and many other European countries at the time.

Admittedly without the excellent narration and my interest of how the novel was interpreted in later times, I don't think I would have finished it. It reads the way I remember the 1950s movie: a heavy costume drama.

if you don't get this...then your missing out.

the story is absolutely marvelous,although it is not for the faint of heart
but if you are looking for a slightly inaccurate look into the persecution of
the early Christians(with a heart stopping story),then get this book!

the only thing that is a slight issue is at times if you don't pay attention,then you might get who is speaking confused,

(note:this does talk about things that aren't recommended for children.)