"Unto Caesar"

"Unto Caesar" by Baroness Emmuska Orczy is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in ancient Rome, during the tumultuous reign of Emperor Caligula, and dives into themes of power, greed, and the human condition. The narrative opens with a dramatic backdrop of a public auction where the slaves of a disgraced censor are being sold, introducing readers to a spectrum of characters navigating the complexities of Roman society. The opening portion of the novel presents a vivid scene in the Forum where slaves, including artisans and laborers, are displayed for potential buyers. There is a significant focus on the auctioneer and the praefect, Taurus Antinor, who oversees the sales with an air of authority, juxtaposed against the desperate circumstances of the slaves. One poignant storyline emerges with the character of Nola, the daughter of freedwoman Menecreta, who yearns for freedom while facing the harsh realities of her position. The tension escalates when Dea Flavia, a noblewoman, enters the scene and seeks to bid for Nola, setting off a chain of events that lead to both unexpected compassion and devastating loss. The interplay of personal desires and societal structures weaves a complex emotional tapestry that engages the reader's empathy and curiosity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Baroness Emma Orczy, usually known as Baroness Orczy or to her family and friends as Emmuska Orczy, was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns into a quick-thinking escape artist in order to save French aristocrats from "Madame Guillotine" during the French Revolution, establishing the "hero with a secret identity" in popular culture.