In his novel Rienzi, Lytton transports readers back to mid-14th century Rome, when the city was ravaged by feuding aristocratic factions. Enter Rienzi, a young man driven by ideals of justice and liberty for the oppressed populace. After rallying the people behind his populist cause, Rienzi rises to power and implements major reforms. For a time, he ushers in a new era of prosperity in Rome. But success breeds complacency. As Rienzi loses touch with the plight of commoners, he comes under attack from elites threatened by his rule. Corruption creeps in, testing the strength of Rienzi’s republic. Lytton’s historical epic dramatizes one visionary’s dramatic rise and fall while exploring timeless themes of revolution, power, and the fickle tides of fate.