A picture of "the little ancient world" of Vasolda in the troubled period of 1848–49, when the "spirit of patriotism mourned its fiercest." The book is a wonderful portrayal of the social life of the period.

An impassioned love story involving faithful pictures of the life of the Italian world of fashion and introducing the character that becomes the central figure of The Saint.

"An exceptional, remarkable, profoundly interesting work. It is eloquent with intense earnestness, with a deep-rooted sense of a duty to perform, a fervent message to deliver. You lay it aside with an abiding sense of having read something eminently worth while, something very genuine and sincere."—The Bookman.