Veranilda

"Veranilda" by George Gissing is a historical novel set during the 6th century, likely written in the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Gothic Wars, capturing the decline of Roman authority as Greek forces under Justinian face off against the rebellious Goths in Italy. The protagonist, Flavius Anicius Maximus, a noble Roman senator, grapples with his own sorrows and deteriorating health while longing to reconnect with his estranged daughter Aurelia, who has taken a Goth as her husband and embraced heretical beliefs. The opening of "Veranilda" introduces a devastated Italy under Byzantine rule, with Maximus brooding at his family villa, anxiously awaiting the return of his nephew Basil, who has been sent to retrieve Aurelia. As Maximus reflects on the calamities that have befallen Rome, he longs for reconciliation with his daughter despite her controversial choices. The plot thickens with the arrival of Aurelia, evoking tension between her and Maximus’s sister Petronilla, a staunch defender of orthodox faith. Meanwhile, young Basil is captivated by Veranilda, a mysterious Gothic maiden of noble blood, hinting at deeper emotional currents and potential conflicts that will arise as personal and political stakes intertwine throughout the narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Robert Gissing was an English novelist, who published 23 novels between 1880 and 1903. In the 1890s he was considered one of the three greatest novelists in England, and by the 1940s he had been recognised as a literary genius. Gissing's best-known works have reappeared in modern editions. They include The Nether World (1889), New Grub Street (1891) and The Odd Women (1893). He retains a small but devoted group of followers.