Henryk Sienkiewicz 
Quo Vadis 

First published in Polish under its Latin title in 1896, ‘Quo Vadis’ is a historical novel by Polish journalist, novelist and Nobel Prize laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz. The title means “where are you going?” and alludes to a New Testament verse (John 13:36). The popular novel was widely translated.



Set in ancient Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero, ‘Quo Vadis’ tells the story of the love that develops between a young Christian woman and a Roman officer who, after meeting her fellow Christians, converts to her religion. Underlying their relationship is the contrast between the worldly opulence of the Roman aristocracy and the poverty, simplicity, and spiritual power of the Christians. The novel has as a subtext the persecution and political subjugation of Poland by Russia.