Sibyl, the Enchantress of the Cumaean Grotto

Princess Lyudmila Dmitrievna Shakhovskaya (1850-?) was a Russian writer, poet, playwright, and translator, the author of over thirty books and several poetry collections, and the compiler of Russia's first "Dictionary of Rhymes of the Russian Language." Her literary legacy is largely linked to classical history: in twenty-three novels, she artistically recounted the path of Ancient Rome, creating a unique epic chronicle in which events and characters are arranged into a single chain.
The novel "Sibyl, the Enchantress of the Cumaean Grotto" transports the reader to the final years of the Tsarist era in Rome, when power lay in the hands of the cruel and capricious Tarquinius Superbus and his conniving and power-hungry wife, Tullia. Against this backdrop, the image of Sibyl emerges-the prophetess of the Cumaean Grotto-whose words and fate are inextricably linked to the turning point that heralds the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a new republican history. The narrative also explores the theme of love, imbuing ancient stories with human warmth and drama.
This work combines historical reconstruction, mythological aura, and psychological depth, making the novel not only part of a grand cycle about the fate of Rome but also a standalone artistic discovery.