Reframing Saint Valentine: Inside Sheldon Collins’ Immersive Audiobook, The Legend of Valentine

Title: The Legend of Valentine: An Ancient Historical Love Story

Author: Sheldon Collins

Publisher: Hutchinson & Collins Publishing LLC

ISBN & Price: 9798991362405, $29.99

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The Legend of Valentine: An Ancient Historical Love Story by Sheldon Collins is a full-cast audiobook experience, complete with cinematic music and sound effects. Rooted in the legend of Saint Valentine, it traces his profound love for the young maiden Agatha as their lives intertwine amid war, political upheaval, and the rising tensions of ancient Rome. At 11 hours and 18 minutes, the audiobook draws listeners deep into the sights, sounds, and pulse of ancient Rome. Though fundamentally a tale of love, the novel extends beyond a singular romantic reunion, offering commentary on universal forms of love as experienced by characters anchored in loss—whether through death, separation, betrayal, or longing.

The story opens with the childhood tale of Rose and Bear, nicknames for Valentine and Agatha, who grow up in the woods playing together and falling into the innocent throes of first love. This introduction gently welcomes the reader and functions almost like a myth within the myth, layering timelines as the narrative later follows Valentine and Agatha into adulthood. Though enamored with one another, the children are forced apart by Agatha’s father’s relocation, an early rupture that establishes the story’s central wound—one Valentine never truly overcomes, carrying the loss of his first love with him into the rest of his life. Collins’s writing is poetic in nature, with lines that feel deliberate in their articulation of the characters’ yearnings. As Valentine reflects in Chapter 2, “He had been chasing shadows ever since losing his childhood love, always searching, never finding.”

Readers are then transitioned to the “present,” where Valentine is depicted as a 26-year-old Roman soldier who, despite teasing from his comrades about women and love, remains steadfastly devoted to the memory of his lost childhood love, Rose. In the following chapters, Valentine and his fellow soldiers are portrayed through a series of exploits—from illicit affairs and camaraderie to daring rescues of the empress during Alamani attacks and the brutal realities of battle. Themes of masculinity, honor, bravery, and valor are woven throughout the narrative, offering a reflective examination of the pressures faced by men in ancient Rome. Valentine often stands in quiet opposition to these expectations, pushing against what is deemed acceptable as he continually fights for vulnerability, devotion, and the love he carries in his heart.

Valentine and Agatha are eventually reunited in adulthood, initially unaware of each other’s true identities. Agatha, who is blind, perceives the world differently, and when they finally recognize one another, this moment of emotional revelation becomes the heart of the story. Collins portrays Agatha’s blindness not as a weakness but as a source of heightened insight and perception, serving as a metaphor for recognizing soul-bound love that transcends physical sight. The remainder of the novel follows Agatha and Valentine as they are separated and reunited repeatedly, their bond tested by war, battle, religion, and countless other obstacles. Despite the many forces working against them, an invisible thread seems to connect them from the very beginning of the story to its final moments.

Beyond the love story of Valentine and Agatha, Collins masterfully depicts the intricate web of political intrigue and power struggles within a corrupt Roman landscape. The narrative traces Claudius’ rise to power, the unrest within the Senate, repeated acts of betrayal, and the ongoing conflict between politics and religion. These political chapters interweave with the personal story, offering a vivid reflection of life in ancient Rome, where the fight for power often mirrors the fumbles of the heart. Collins’ writing is both entertaining and informative, striking a careful balance between historical detail and dramatic storytelling. Each chapter opens with a historical quote that both foreshadows the events to come and grounds the dramatization in authentic historical voices. Quotes such as, “We are not born for ourselves alone. A part of us is claimed by our nation. Another part by our friends.” – Cicero, and “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” – Marcus Aurelius, set the tone for the narrative. Each scene draws the reader in, immersing them in the corruption, intrigue, and turmoil of the empire alongside the characters.

In all, The Legend of Valentine reframes a familiar saint, along with his loved ones and comrades, as deeply human figures—full of flaws, heartbreaks, triumphs, and vulnerabilities. The audiobook’s immersive production transports the listener to ancient Rome, offering a thrilling experience that captivates for hours on end. Collins masterfully weaves a heroic tale rich with emotional depth and layered themes, creating characters readers will grow attached to and reluctant to leave behind. Ultimately, this is a story of love enduring through loss, of the human ways people navigate grief, faith, and violence, and of the hope that sustains them—making it not only entertaining but deeply heartwarming for modern audiences.

Review by Britain Powers.