The Heart of Rome

by F. Marion Crawford

The Heart of Rome is a historical novel set in 19th Century Rome. The family of the heroine is suddenly impoverished--her selfish mother leaves her with a social-climbing woman who's married to Baron Volterra--the man mainly responsible for the fall of the Conti family. An architect (Malipieri) moves into the the Conti palace to search for lost treasure. When he falls in love with Sabina, the young heroine, she goes with him to see the treasure and they are trapped by "lost water." She spends the night in his room and her reputation is ruined.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Francis Marion Crawford (1854-1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels. He was born at Bagni di Lucca, Italy. In 1879 he went to India, where he studied Sanskrit and edited the Allahabad Indian Herald. Returning to America he continued to study Sanskrit at Harvard University for a year, contributed to various periodicals, and in 1882 produced his first novel, Mr Isaacs. This book had an immediate success, and its author's promise was confirmed by the publication of Doctor Claudius: A True Story (1883). After a brief residence in New York and Boston, in 1883 he returned to Italy, where he made his permanent home. He also published the historical works, Ave Roma Immortalis (1898), Rulers of the South (1900) renamed Sicily, Calabria and Malta in 1904, and Gleanings from Venetian History (1905). The Saracinesca series is perhaps known to be his best work, with the third in the series, Don Orsino, set against the background of a real estate bubble, told with effective concision. A fourth book in the series, Corleone, was the first major treatment of the Mafia in literature.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned of this book and author from an article I read recently. What intrigued me was the description about the young couple's love for each other and how much more romantic it was for its tender and respectful chastity. The description didn't even do it justice. They don't write them like this anymore! ❤️‍🔥

The story itself was an engrossing read, 3 stars. And learning about the 'Lost Water' under the City of Rome was fascinating. I couldn't follow all the ins and outs of the climbing and digging in the subterranean realms so that was somewhat wasted on your truly, but the love scenes were exquisite, and I am not generally a reader of romances. An extra star for those.

I am going to check out more by this author.

[Dorcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating clarification 3.75

When the Conti family becomes bankrupt, their palace is confiscated and they are forced to move. Sabina, the youngest of the family is taken in, ironically, by the banker/senator and his wife (the very ones responsible for the Conti's losing their home) and spends the next few months with them.

Meanwhile, there is work being done at the Conti's palace. A renowned archaeologist has been hired to sniff out hidden treasures and "lost waters " deep under the foundations of the palace grounds.

This is a romance/mystery/adventure. The romance develops between the archaeologist and the princess Sabina, and when treasure is discovered in hidden vaults underground, he wants Sabina to be the first to see it.

Unfortunately, there are two other people in Rome aware of what lies beneath the city and these scoundrels (think mafia) are also aware of how to work the "lost waters " i.e, how to control the water's flow...which runs through the vaults and passages...

I wont say any more but it gets pretty exciting.

I couldn't make up my mind whether to give this 3.5 or 4 stars but since I enjoyed Francis Marion Crawford's book A Roman Singer just a smidgen more and rated that one at 4 stars, I have given this 3.75.

CONTENT: G

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical novel set in 18thC Rome. The family of the heroine is suddenly impoverished--her selfish mother leaves her with a social-climbing woman who's married to Baron Volterra--the man mainly responsible for the fall of the Conti family. An architect (Malipieri) moves into the the Conti palace to search for lost treasure. When he falls in love with Sabina, the young heroine, she goes with him to see the treasure and they are trapped by "lost water." She spends the night in his room and her reputation is ruined. He married when young to save the reputation of the lover of his dead friend and has never lived with his wife, who saves the day when she comes to Rome and suggests that they go to Switzerland to get a divorce.