Set during the last years of the first and the early years of second century the story follows Quintus Claudius, a young man from Campania on his adventure in Imperial Rome. Impressed with the stories of Rome he heard in his family, Quintus decides to take a trip to the famous capital of the Empire, with his adopted sister Lucilia, to look for their chance of happiness. The story follows them on their path as they go through many adventures and misadventures, finding both troubles and romances.

Ernst Eckstein (1845–1900) was a German humorist, novelist and poet. Eckstein has made a lasting name for himself as the founder of high school comedy. He also wrote numerous historical novels with themes from Roman times antiquity.