The Marble Faun; Or, The Romance of Monte Beni - Volume 1

In the shadow of Rome’s ancient Capitol, four travelers—Miriam, Hilda, Kenyon, and the enigmatic Donatello—wander through a marble gallery where statues seem to breathe history. Surrounded by the Dying Gladiator, Antinous, and a solemn child clutching a dove, they feel the weight of centuries pressing against the present. The city’s crumbling arches and distant Alban Mountains create a dream‑like backdrop that blurs the line between memory and immediacy. As they linger, the friends sense a strange, almost reverent mood that hints at deeper currents beneath their chatter.

Their conversation turns to a striking marble figure that bears an uncanny likeness to a young Italian they have just met. Miriam, with her keen eye for form, insists the statue is a perfect portrait of the faun of Praxiteles, while Hilda notes subtle differences between mythic wilderness and city life. This encounter sets the stage for an exploration of art, identity, and the moral choices that echo through the ages. Listeners are invited to follow the quartet as they navigate the unsettling interplay of past and present in the Eternal City.