THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE by Sheldon Collins tells a multilayered story ranging from Imperial Palace intrigue to the star-crossed journey of two lovers. Historically, Valentine was neither a saint nor a priest, but given the depth and width of his skills and faith, he might as well have been. As portrayed in Sheldon Collins’s novel, Valentine emerges as a healer, a soldier, a passionate but honorable lover, a baptized Christian, and an underground wedding officiant.
The story follows the efforts of Valentine and Agatha to reunite, after decades apart, against complicated obstacles. A wider canvas displays Rome’s upheavals both at its borders and in the palace among a splintered senate and an authoritarian emperor.
Collins’s take on the Valentine story offers solid descriptions, a quick pace, and a sturdy structure built on the author’s pedigree as a screenwriter. His novel encompasses the interplay of pagan and Christian faiths at a particular juncture in Roman history—as in, for example, a scene depicting the overthrow of an emperor tolerant of diverse faith traditions and the subsequent rise in persecution of Christians. Also interesting is the book’s depiction of historic medical practices, from Greek abortifacients to Indian Ayurvedic healing traditions to Chinese Qigong—all in use in the cosmopolitan city that was that era’s Rome.
However, despite its solid structure and thorough research, THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE suffers from cliched storylines (a man’s true love is forced to marry a richer man), over-the-top battle scenes, and stilted dialogue—as when a young child tells her playmate that “there is no higher duty than being of service to those in need”—or when two Romans watching a chariot race converse: “Have you seen the latest races at the Circus Maximus?” “Yes, it’s quite the spectacle. Those charioteers indeed know how to please the crowd.” Furthermore, several predictable outcomes and coincidental meetings strain credibility.
Still, the novel’s larger story is compelling, especially for fans of Roman history. Collins has dressed his stage with historical tour guides describing notable Roman architecture, baths, villas, costumes, weaponry, and festivals. A handy glossary of characters and an extensive bibliography of resources are welcome additions.
Overall, readers who can accept the flaws of THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE will enjoy its cinematic story and depiction of a fascinating time and place in world history.
Readers who can overlook the flawed dialogue and cliched storylines in Sheldon Collins’s THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE will enjoy the details of this well-structured story.
~Anne Welsbacher for IndieReader