Marcelo's Reading and Thinking Log

This is a really weak historical novel, and I don't advise its reading. Here's the plot, which is divided in two independent stories, although the second one is somewhat arbitrarily divided in two parts. In the 5th century A.D., the Visigoth king Ataulfo rules over Spain. His palace is in Barcelona. He is married to a Roman woman called Placídia, who is secretly in love with the Roman general Constâncio; she manipulates Ataulfo and plots the fall of Ataulfo's kingdom in the hands of the Romans. Ataulfo's generals Walia and Sigerico are very discontented with the situation and plot Ataulfo's assassination. The court jester Barnolfo has a pact with Walia by which he will murder Ataulfo in exchange for the hand of the beautiful Irene, who loves Sigerico and is loved by him. Sigerico and Walia form an alliance and arrange to have Barnolfo kill Ataulfo at a party, which he does. Walia hands the crown to Sigerico, who is a cruel ruler and is eventually killed by an enraged mob. Walia is made king and Irene is finally given to Barnolfo, much against her will -- end of first story. The second story happens at Toulouse, capital of Aquitania, where, a few generations after Walia, the Visigoth Teodorico is king. The preparations for the wedding of his two daughters, Balda and Fredegunda, respectively with the Vandal Janserico and the Sweve (?) Richiário, are taking place. Balda and Fredegunda are very displeased with the situation and plot to kill their husbands during the wedding banquet. For that purpose, they have engaged the help of a servant who will put poison in their husbands' drinks. At the fatal hour, however, Janserico refuses to drink from a Roman cup and hands it to his servant to drink, telling Richiário to do the same, provoking the servants' deaths and arousing their suspicion of foul play. They leave quietly in the next morning, taking their wives with them. Teodorico is alerted about the danger of Attila, a barbarian conqueror that is ravaging Europe. Meanwhile Balda and Fredegunda are kept prisoners at the Sweve castle and plot an escape. They go out through a window, get to the castle ditch and decide to swim across it to the other side -- end of the second part. Teodorico allies with Roman leader Aécio and Franc leader Meroveu to fight Attila, managing to defeat him, but letting him live. King Teodorico dies at the battle, and at the moment of his agony he receives news that his daughters were captured while trying to escape and were being sent back to him after having had their noses and ears cut off. Teodorico dies, leaving the throne for his son Turismundo. Attila has retreated to his palace and starts his conquests again, but one day he marries and dies in his wedding night. Turismundo is a wanton and cruel king and is killed by his brother Teodorico, who then becomes king. Teodorico commands revenge against the mutilators of his sisters. He succeeds with Richiário, fighting his army and winning; he captures Richiário, mutilates him in return, and kills him. The novel says that it is not known for sure whether Janserico was killed. Eurico, Teodorico's younger brother, covets the throne and kills Teodorico to get it -- end of the third and last part.