02443cam a22003373u 4500 24680 UtSlPG 20260610133551.0 m cr n 260607r2008||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 BV PS De Mille, James, 1833-1880 The martyr of the catacombs Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2008 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Original published anonymously Release date is 2008-02-23 "The Martyr of the Catacombs: A Tale of Ancient Rome" by James De Mille is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The book explores themes of faith, martyrdom, and the persecution of Christians in ancient Rome, primarily through the stories of various characters caught in the brutal realities of this historical context, particularly focusing on a young gladiator and his struggle between his duty and his faith. The opening of the tale presents a vivid scene set in the grandeur of the Roman Coliseum during a festival, highlighting the bloodthirsty nature of the crowd as they revel in the brutal spectacles of gladiatorial combat. The main character, Macer, is introduced as a renowned gladiator who chooses to refuse to kill his fellow man in favor of his Christian beliefs, leading to a dramatic confrontation with the emperor's desires for entertainment and violence. As the novel unfolds, Marcellus, a soldier tasked with seeking out Christians, begins to grapple with his own beliefs and values, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of faith and sacrifice amidst the oppressive regime of the time. The opening portion effectively captures the stark contrast between the cruel entertainment of the Romans and the profound convictions of the early Christians, foreshadowing the moral dilemmas that the characters will face. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Historical fiction Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600 -- Fiction Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-284 A.D. Christian fiction https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24680 65681 65681