Georg Ebers, renowned for his meticulously researched historical novels set in ancient Egypt, transports readers to the turbulent world of Roman-controlled Alexandria in "A Thorny Path." This sweeping narrative, originally published in German as "Per Aspera," immerses us in a city teetering on the brink of chaos, where the clash of cultures, the madness of an emperor, and the struggle of a nascent faith create a volatile backdrop for a story of love, resilience, and moral courage.

The novel's heroine is the beautiful and virtuous Melissa, the daughter of a respected gem-engraver. As the story opens, Melissa's family is facing ruin, their fortunes diminished and their social standing precarious. Their "thorny path" begins in earnest when Melissa catches the eye of the Roman Emperor Caracalla, who has arrived in Alexandria with his legions. Caracalla, a figure historically known for his brutality and paranoia, is portrayed here with psychological complexity—a man tormented by ghosts and susceptible to both violent rages and superstitious fears. He becomes infatuated with Melissa, seeing in her not only beauty but a potential talisman against his inner demons, and he demands she join his court.

For Melissa, this attention is not an honor but a sentence. She is repulsed by the emperor's character and horrified by the bloody purges he instigates against the citizens of Alexandria. Her heart belongs to a noble and courageous Macedonian soldier, Diodoros, and her loyalties lie firmly with her people. Thus, she is thrust into an impossible position: to refuse the emperor is to condemn herself, her family, and her beloved Diodoros to certain death; to accept him is to sacrifice her own soul and betray everything she holds dear.

Melissa's journey becomes a desperate and dangerous balancing act. She must navigate the treacherous corridors of the imperial court, a snake-pit of sycophants, spies, and scheming politicians like the powerful prefect Macrinus. Using her wit, her compassion, and a deep understanding of human nature, she attempts to manage the emperor's volatile moods, often at great personal risk, to act as a secret pleader for the lives of her fellow Alexandrians. Ebers masterfully interweaves her personal drama with the larger historical events, including the infamous massacre Caracalla ordered against the city's youth. Furthermore, the novel explores the growing presence of the Christians, a persecuted sect whose teachings of forgiveness and sacrifice stand in stark contrast to the emperor's cruelty and the decadence of Roman polytheism. "A Thorny Path" is a powerful and poignant epic, a testament to the strength of a single individual who, armed only with her integrity, walks a razor's edge between a tyrant's whim and the salvation of her world.

Table of Contents:

• A Thorny Path. Part 1

• A Thorny Path. Part 2

• A Thorny Path. Part 3

• A Thorny Path. Part 4

• A Thorny Path. Part 5

• A Thorny Path. Part 6

• A Thorny Path. Part 7

• A Thorny Path. Part 8

• A Thorny Path. Part 9

• A Thorny Path. Part 10

• A Thorny Path. Part 11