"Heliogabalus: A Buffoonery in Three Acts" is a book written by Mencken and his co-editor friend George Jean Nathan to show how easy it was to write a play. The book tells the story of Heliogabalus, Emperor of Roman Imperium who gets to choose every night from eleven gorgeous spouses. The Emperor was charmed by a Christian damsel who is proving difficult to get. He soon got irritated by her virtue and returned to his old ways. The authors combined their talent, wits, and cleverness to bring this masterpiece to the public.