John Paul II Speaks to Youth at World Youth Day Book

Roman Emperor Nero is a singer of beautiful songs his first love, he himself composes if you don't like them better keep your opinions unsaid, you'll live a longer life. Nero has killed his mother, wife, brother all his family, and many former friends. Only unlimited praise the mighty Caesar enjoys ( but though he is terrible his voice and music, are a small sacrifice for his friendship and the vast benefits, he showers) ... Petronius the "Arbiter of Elegance" and close friend of the vicious ruler, has much influence in the court. A well educated and secret writer of The Satyricon the first novel, with poetry. He doesn't take credit as the author, Petronius likes to live in Rome not exiled, as others have been. The book ridicules certain Roman patricians their society, both he is part of ! In the arts nobody knows more than he. Marcus Vinicius a military tribune, his nephew back from a war in Asia Minor, informs his uncle in the opulent steamy Roman Baths, that he has fallen madly in love with a pretty maiden. While recovering from an injury in the house of Aulus Plautius, a retired and honored general, who helped in conquering Britain. The girl is the daughter of a foreign king a Roman hostage, now living in the home of the General's and Pomponia Graecina the wife of Aulus she becomes very fond of her, treated like a daughter. Since all her relatives perished Lygia, now considers them her new family. The young patrician soldier must have her as his concubine but Lygia, is a secret Christian and though she loves him, will not accept that. Marcus seeks his uncle's influence to get the girl away from her loved ones. Nero has Lygia come to his palace to be examined, the Emperor likes attractive women but the noble, clever, arbiter of elegance tells him, she is too narrow in the hips not true, and a compliment today still it saves the lady. Poppaea the Emperor's cruel new wife, hates the maiden naturally, Tigellinus ambitious head of the Praetorian Guard, he likes to kill hates Petronius his arch- rival. Given to Marcus however with the help of Ursus, Lygia's devoted servant as big as a giant and as strong as an ox, escapes easily before reaching the tribune's house . Which so angers the lovesick Marcus nothing else matters, needs only to recover his prize, greatly effecting his health. With the assistance of Christians, including St. Peter and Paul she is well hidden. Fires break out soon after in the vast city, countless building are incinerated the illustrious capital of the world, is tumbling down. People are perishing in its flames, shooting high into the night sky, bright now as daylight, crowds are streaming out of the infernal the thick smoke , chokes the heat and flames, killing thousands winds spreading the insatiable fires. Everyone but Marcus the soldier flee, in a desperate effort to rescue his beloved enters the doomed town staggering in the hopeless search, hardly able to breath, falling but getting up he must continue the quest or die trying ... The frightened Nero, afraid of the people's wrath blames the obscure Christians for the disaster, many will bravely die in the bloody arena. The Roman masses must be appeased ! A surprisingly enchanting book which never fails to entertain the reader...