Carinus: Historiallinen novelli

In the waning days of the Roman Empire, the glittering villas of the patrician class stand as monuments to excess and art. At the edge of the city, the elderly senator Mesembrius lives in a sprawling estate on the Tiber, presiding over a world of sumptuous feasts, whispered intrigues, and the lingering scent of ancient gods. His younger daughter Sofronia, celebrated for her beauty and charm, becomes the focus of both aristocratic admirers and the quiet, growing influence of Christianity through the learned Eusebius, a descendant of the apostles who meets her in secret.

The novel follows the delicate balance Mesembrius tries to maintain as his household becomes a crossroads of old and new loyalties. Lavish banquets invite ambitious youths hoping to win Sofronia’s hand and her fortune, while the Christian message spreads, condemning the very decadence that surrounds them. When a bold young knight arrives at the estate, the stage is set for a clash of desire, faith, and the inevitable changes threatening the empire’s glittering façade.