"Rome" is the second book of a trilogy that started with Lourdes and concludes with Paris. Often called the Three Cities trilogy. In Rome the story depicts a disillusioned priest as he goes to the Vatican to defend his book which is to be placed on the Index of Prohibited Books. The story explores his hope for a new kind of Christianity that in his opinion will meet the needs of modern society in a better way. He is confronted with a religious organisation unable to change with the times. Zola's critical description of Papal bureaucracy will not endear this work to devout Catholics, but his description of the inner workings of the Vatican is informative and fascinating.