Antonina; Or, the Fall of Rome
1850
Published in 1850, 'Antonina; Or, the Fall of Rome' by Wilkie Collins is a historical novel set during the Gothic invasions of the 3rd to 6th centuries. The narrative follows Goisvintha, a Gothic woman, and her wounded child as they seek refuge amidst the chaos, while Roman senator Vetranio remains oblivious to the impending doom. The novel contrasts the struggles for survival against the backdrop of a crumbling empire, exploring themes of fate, identity, and ambition in a time of upheaval.
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“were we two following our widely parted roads towards one point in the mysterious future, at which we were to meet once more?””
— Wilkie Collins
“Lovely eyes in colour, lovely eyes in form”
— Wilkie Collins
“We had come to see blackguards; but these men were something worse. There is a comic side, more or less appreciable, in all blackguardism”
— Wilkie Collins
