Set during the last years of the Roman Republic in the first century B. C. the story follows the adventures of Lucius Marius, young Roman lad who gets sent to Capua at first, and then to take up an official position in Sicily. On his great journey Lucius meets several important historical figures such as Spartacus and Mithridates, and enjoys many adventures among soldiers, sailors, pirates and kings.

Alfred J. Church (1829 -1912) was an English classical scholar. He translated Tacitus and edited Pliny's Letters. Church also wrote a number of stories in English re-telling of classical tales and legends for young people (Stories from Virgil, Stories from Homer, etc.).