Helena

Helena is a historical novel by Evelyn Waugh, set in the age of Emperor Constantine.

It follows the life of Helena, the intelligent and horse-loving daughter of a British chieftain, who becomes the wife of Constantius and later a key figure in early Christianity.

The novel explores themes of corruption, treachery, and enlightenment in Imperial Rome, as Helena seeks truth and becomes initiated into Christianity.

Waugh considered this his most ambitious work, delving into the question of how one becomes a saint.