Historical & Ancient Fiction

The Travels of Marco Polo is a 13th-century travelogue documenting the adventures of Venetian merchant Marco Polo as he journeyed through Asia. Polo recounts his 24-year travels (1271–1295) across the Silk Road, detailing his service under Kublai Khan in the Mongol Empire. He describes the vast wealth, advanced infrastructure, and diverse cultures of China, Persia, India, and other regions unknown to Europeans at the time. His accounts of paper money, coal, and the Grand Canal fascinated readers, though some doubted their veracity. The book, written while Polo was imprisoned in Genoa, became a key source of European knowledge about the East, inspiring future explorers like Christopher Columbus. While some details may be exaggerated or borrowed, The Travels remains a foundational work in travel literature and medieval geography.

Théophile Gautier’s One of Cleopatra’s Nights (1845) is a lush, sensual short story set in ancient Egypt. It depicts a single night in the life of Queen Cleopatra, who, in a fit of boredom and decadence, offers a night of passion to any man who can satisfy her—but at the cost of his life. A handsome fisherman, Meïamoun, accepts the challenge, intoxicated by her beauty. After a night of extravagant pleasure, he willingly drinks poison, dying in her arms. Gautier’s prose is rich with vivid imagery, emphasizing opulence, desire, and fatal beauty. The story reflects Romanticism’s fascination with exoticism, tragic love, and the destructive power of passion. It remains one of Gautier’s most famous tales, showcasing his skill in blending historical fantasy with poetic decadence.

The Gorgon’s Head is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s retelling of the Greek myth of Perseus, included in his collection A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys (1851). The story follows Perseus, tasked by King Polydectes to slay Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turns men to stone. With divine aid—winged sandals from Hermes, a mirrored shield from Athena, and a sword from Zeus—Perseus beheads Medusa without looking directly at her. He later uses her head to rescue Princess Andromeda from a sea monster and petrifies Polydectes. Hawthorne’s version simplifies the myth for children while retaining its adventure and moral undertones. The tale explores themes of heroism, cleverness, and divine intervention, presented in Hawthorne’s characteristic allegorical style.

Montezuma’s Daughter (1893) is a historical adventure novel by H. Rider Haggard. The story follows Thomas Wingfield, an Englishman who travels to Mexico in search of his mother’s murderer. After being shipwrecked, he is captured by the Aztecs and becomes embroiled in their civilization just before the Spanish conquest led by Hernán Cortés. Thomas falls in love with Montezuma’s daughter, Otomie, and witnesses the fall of Tenochtitlán. The novel blends romance, revenge, and historical drama, depicting the clash between European colonizers and Aztec culture. Haggard’s vivid descriptions of Aztec society, human sacrifice, and warfare create an immersive narrative, though his portrayal reflects 19th-century colonial perspectives.

Wilkie Collins’ Antonina, or The Fall of Rome (1850) is a historical novel set during the sack of Rome by the Goths in 410 AD. The story follows Antonina, the daughter of a Roman senator, who falls in love with a Gothic warrior, Numerian. Their romance unfolds amid political intrigue, religious conflict (between paganism and Christianity), and the collapse of Roman power. Collins weaves themes of love, betrayal, and societal decay, portraying the brutality of war and the clash of civilizations. Though less famous than his later mystery novels, Antonina showcases Collins’ early talent for dramatic storytelling and rich historical detail, influenced by Romanticism’s fascination with ancient decline.