The martyr of the catacombs: a tale of ancient Rome: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The martyr of the catacombs: a tale of ancient Rome: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The martyr of the catacombs: a tale of ancient Rome is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for De Mille, James (1833–1880).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"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.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The martyr of the catacombs: a tale of ancient Rome
- Author credits: De Mille, James (1833–1880)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Christian fiction
- Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600 -- Fiction
- Historical fiction
- Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-284 A.D.
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Historical Novels
- Category: History - Ancient
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


