Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) was an Anglican priest, historian, and writer, one of the founders of English Christian socialism. His work includes novels, journalism, philosophical essays, lectures, and sermons. Kingsley is best known for his social novels Yeast and Elton Locke, Tailor and Poet, in which he depicted the crisis of traditional English society in the mid-19th century and the fate of the poorest classes.

Hypatia, written in 1852–1853, transports the reader to fourth-century Alexandria, one of the last strongholds of the ancient world. The story centers on the fate of the renowned philosopher and mathematician Hypatia. Possessing a brilliant mind and a clear understanding of the limitations of pagan beliefs, she nevertheless refuses to convert to Christianity, shocked by the depravity and cruelty of the clergy of her time. Against the backdrop of the violent clashes between Christians and pagans in Alexandria, Kingsley reveals the tragic clash of ideas, beliefs, and human characters.

Hypatia is not only a historical novel about the demise of the ancient world, but also a profound reflection on the fate of culture, faith, and humanity during crucial periods.