Fausta by Edgar Saltus (1897)
"Fausta" is a novel by Edgar Saltus that tells the story of Fausta, a beautiful and ambitious woman who rises to power in ancient Rome through her relationships with powerful men. The book explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of power.
By Edgar Saltus · First published 1897 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 5,677 words
First lines
There are many beautiful things in the world, and among them, near the head of the list, stands dawn in the tropics. It is sudden as love, and just as fair. Throughout the night the ship had been sailing beneath larger stars than ours, in waters that were seamed and sentient with phosphorus; but now the ship was in the harbor, day had chased the stars, the water was iridescent as a syrup of opals, at the horizon was the tenderest pink, overhead was a compound of salmon and of blue; and beyond, within rifle range, was an amphitheatre of houses particolored as rainbows, surmounted by green hills, tiared with the pearl points of cathedral steeples, and for defensive girdle, the yellow walls of a crumbling fort.
What this Textopian page supports
Fausta is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edgar Saltus, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Edgar Saltus
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Tragedy, Adventure
- Length: 5,677 words
- Structure: 1 section, 108 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Fausta by Edgar Saltus
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Fausta?
- How does this novella by Edgar Saltus fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes of love, betrayal, and cultural identity through rich, descriptive prose and character development.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic relationship between Ruis and Fausta, highlighting themes of passion and emotional conflict.
- Historical Fiction — Set in colonial Cuba, the narrative incorporates historical elements and social dynamics of the time.
- Tragedy — The story culminates in a tragic ending, emphasizing the consequences of betrayal and the clash of personal desires with societal expectations.
Tags
tragedy · romance · philosophy · moral conflict · dark themes · human desire · supernatural · existentialism · gothic · psychological · seduction · betrayal