This two-volume collection investigates the historical and political function of ancient martyr literature, specifically the Acta Alexandrinorum and the Acts of the Christian Martyrs. Herbert A. Musurillo, a Jesuit scholar, provides critical editions, translations, and extensive commentary to analyze how these texts served as propaganda and legal records during periods of intense political conflict. By examining the intersection of Roman judicial authority and the resistance of Alexandrian and Christian figures, the work establishes a framework for understanding the development of the martyr genre in antiquity.

Scholars and historians regard this collection as a foundational resource for the study of early Christian and pagan martyr literature. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the precision of Musurillo's editorial work in contextualizing these complex primary sources.