[13] This motive is used in Mr. E. L. White’s Andivius Hedulio, and in Baring-Gould’s Perpetua; in each of these novels the hero makes his escape through the drain.
[14] Thomas Love Peacock said The Epicurean was “not faithful to ancient manners, and ignorant of Epicureanism.”
[15] The date 1827 is given in the publisher’s note to the 1901 edition, as the date when Salathiel was first published. This is evidently a mistake on the part of the publishers (Messrs. Funk and Wagnalls), since 1829 is given as the original date of publication by historians of the novel (e. g., George Saintsbury in The English Novel), and in biographical accounts of Croly (e. g., The Dictionary of National Biography, etc.).
[16] Josephus is the direct source usually, and always the ultimate source of all novels which take the siege of Jerusalem for their theme. cf. Whyte-Melville’s The Gladiators.
[17] Croly’s classical scholarship is especially well displayed in his Catiline, which tells in the form of a verse drama the story of the famous conspiracy against the Roman republic.
[18] Since Bulwer wrote for many years under this name, before he became the Earl of Lytton, it is quite permissable to use the shorter form of his name.
[19] The scene of Valerius, of course, opens in Britain, but nothing of importance to the story happens there. This is doubtless a mere device to arouse the interest of English readers in the hero by hinting at the connection of “Roman” Britain with Rome.
[20] The date 1840, given in some guides to historical fiction, has been found to be incorrect.
[21] Hypatia was begun as a serial in Fraser’s Magazine in 1851.
[22] In regard to Kingsley’s choice of Hypatia for his heroine, it should be said that she typifies the last adherent of Greek philosophy, and this is the real reason she is chosen. There is, however, a marked similarity between Kingsley’s heroine and Ware’s Zenobia. Both were women who aspired to power, independent of the Roman government; and both conceived the idea of relying on male counselors. Hypatia, in speaking of Philammon, says: “If I could but train him into a Longinus, I could dare to play the part of a Zenobia, with him as counselor... And for my Odenatus—Orestes?” She did indeed attempt to follow this plan, even forming an alliance with Orestes, whom she detested. But even if Kingsley’s heroine was in part suggested to him by Ware’s Zenobia, this is not to be considered an important reason leading to the writing of Hypatia.