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Quo Vadis by Sienkiewicz Henryk Illustrated E.C. Whitney’s Book Hardcover VTG HC
This book is a 1901–1906 edition of Quo Vadis: A Tale of the Time of Nero by Henryk Sienkiewicz, published by M. A. Donohue & Co.
Identifying the Year
While the book itself is undated (typical for this publisher), we can determine the date range by looking at the publisher’s address listed on your title page: 407-429 Dearborn St., Chicago.
• M. A. Donohue & Co. used this specific address range between 1901 and 1906.
• Before 1901, the company operated under the name "Donohue & Henneberry."
• After 1906, they moved or changed their address listing in books to a smaller range on Dearborn St.
Book History & Summary
• Context: Originally published in Polish in 1896, Quo Vadis became a global phenomenon and was a major reason Sienkiewicz won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905. M. A. Donohue & Co. specialized in "cheap" or "library" editions—mass-producing popular classics for a general audience at an affordable price.
• Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Epic.
• Summary: Set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero, the story follows the romance between a Roman patrician, Marcus Vinicius, and a Christian woman named Lygia. It vividly depicts the decadence of Nero's court, the Great Fire of Rome, and the early persecution of Christians in the Colosseum.
