Fabiola; Or, The Church of the Catacombs (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Historical Romance of Early Christian Rome, Martyrdom, and Conversion Under DiocletianBy Nicholas Patrick Wiseman
Length15h 28m
About this audiobook
Fabiola; Or, The Church of the Catacombs is a learned historical romance set in fourth-century Rome during the persecutions of Diocletian. Through the spiritual awakening of the aristocratic Fabiola and the witness of martyrs, confessors, slaves, and converts, the novel reconstructs the hidden life of the early Church in the catacombs. Its style combines antiquarian detail, melodramatic plotting, devotional rhetoric, and Catholic apologetic, placing it within the Victorian vogue for historical fiction while answering Protestant accounts of Christian origins. Nicholas Patrick Wiseman, later Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, was one of nineteenth-century England's most influential Catholic intellectuals. Educated in Rome and deeply versed in patristics, archaeology, and ecclesiastical history, he wrote the novel amid the Catholic revival following the restoration of the English hierarchy in 1850. His Roman training and pastoral desire to present Catholicism as ancient, heroic, and intellectually serious clearly shaped the book's imaginative world. Readers interested in Christian antiquity, Victorian religious culture, or the literature of Catholic identity will find Fabiola rewarding. Though its sentiment and moral clarity belong to its age, its vivid evocation of persecution, conversion, and communal courage remains compelling, especially as a window into how nineteenth-century Catholics interpreted the primitive Church.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (442)
Includes Goodreads
GenreChristian & Inspirational, Historical Fiction
Length15 hrs 28 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 9, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5PREFACE.
Show all chaptersShow less
6Part First.—Peace.
7CHAPTER I. THE CHRISTIAN HOUSE.
8CHAPTER II. THE MARTYR’S BOY.
9CHAPTER IV. THE HEATHEN HOUSEHOLD.
10CHAPTER V. THE VISIT.
11CHAPTER VI. THE BANQUET.
12CHAPTER VII. POOR AND RICH.
13CHAPTER VIII. THE FIRST DAY’S CONCLUSION.
14CHAPTER IX. MEETINGS.
15CHAPTER X. OTHER MEETINGS.
16CHAPTER XI. A TALK WITH THE READER.
17CHAPTER XII. THE WOLF AND THE FOX.
18CHAPTER XIII. CHARITY.
19CHAPTER XIV. EXTREMES MEET.
20CHAPTER XV. CHARITY RETURNS.
21CHAPTER XVI. THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
22CHAPTER XVII. THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
23CHAPTER XVIII. TEMPTATION.
24CHAPTER XIX. THE FALL.
25Part Second.—Conflict.
26CHAPTER I. DIOGENES.
27CHAPTER II. THE CEMETERIES.
28CHAPTER III. WHAT DIOGENES COULD NOT TELL ABOUT THE CATACOMBS.
29CHAPTER IV. WHAT DIOGENES DID TELL ABOUT THE CATACOMBS.
30CHAPTER V. ABOVE GROUND.
31CHAPTER VI. DELIBERATIONS.
32CHAPTER VII. DARK DEATH.
33CHAPTER VIII. DARKER STILL.
34CHAPTER IX. THE FALSE BROTHER.
35CHAPTER X. THE ORDINATION IN DECEMBER.
36CHAPTER XI. THE VIRGINS.
37CHAPTER XII. THE NOMENTAN VILLA.
38CHAPTER XIII. THE EDICT.
39CHAPTER XIV. THE DISCOVERY.
40CHAPTER XV. EXPLANATIONS.
41CHAPTER XVI. THE WOLF IN THE FOLD.
42CHAPTER XVII. THE FIRST FLOWER.
43CHAPTER XVIII. RETRIBUTION.
44CHAPTER XIX. TWOFOLD REVENGE.
45CHAPTER XX. THE PUBLIC WORKS.
46CHAPTER XXI. THE PRISON.
47CHAPTER XXII. THE VIATICUM.
48CHAPTER XXIII. THE FIGHT.
49CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
50CHAPTER XXV. THE RESCUE.
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