Fabiola; Or, The Church of the Catacombs

Set in pagan Rome, the novel portrays the persecuted early Christian community and follows interconnected characters whose conversion, domestic life, and secret worship in catacombs lead to trials, arrests, and martyrdom. Vivid descriptions of urban topography and household ritual alternate with courtroom and underground scenes that reveal conflicts of conscience, acts of charity, and steadfast faith. The narrative emphasizes communal solidarity, sacrificial witness, and the rites and daily practices that sustain believers under oppression, presenting moral and spiritual resilience amid social and legal hostility.