Although it is the first work with a novelistic plot by Penelope Delta, published in 1909, her literary strength and the author's ability to shape characters are evident. For the Homeland takes us to the era of Basil II, known as the Bulgar Slayer, when the Bulgarians, taking advantage of the emperor's absence in Asia Minor, attack Macedonia. Then Alexios and his wife Thekla undertake the dangerous mission of delivering a message from the emperor to the Ruler of Dyrrachium. Adventures, Bulgarian spies, and difficult conditions compose a very interesting plot. However, the dominant aspect is the power of emotions: Thekla's love for her husband and the devotion of both to the idea of the Homeland and to the emperor.