"Mr. Rowl"

In Plymouth, England during the Napoleonic Wars, French prisoner-of-war Captain Raoul des Sablières finds himself caught between honor and injustice. After his capture at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, he lives under parole in England where he forms a connection with Juliana Forrest, daughter of Lord Fulgrave. Following accusations of breaking parole, Raoul faces imprisonment first at Norman's Cross camp and then on a Plymouth prison hulk. His subsequent escape in women's clothing leads to an encounter with Captain Hervey Barrington, a Royal Navy officer on half-pay, and his sister Lavinia. The story traces Raoul's journey through the English countryside as he navigates a complex web of loyalty, persecution, and alliance. His fate becomes intertwined with that of Captain Barrington, who must choose between duty and what he believes is right. Broster's novel examines the tensions between national duty and personal conscience during wartime, while exploring how trust can develop between supposed enemies. The historical backdrop serves to highlight universal questions about honor, justice, and the nature of true nobility.

This appears to be an obscure book with very limited reader reviews available online. Only 8 ratings exist on Goodreads with an average of 3.38/5 stars. No written reviews were found on Goodreads, Amazon, or other major book sites. The few brief reader mentions found suggest it is a gothic mystery set in Scotland. One reader on a vintage book forum noted appreciation for the atmospheric Highland setting and supernatural elements. Another mentioned it feels similar to other D.K. Broster works but is not as strong as her Jacobite trilogy. The lack of reviews and discussion makes it difficult to determine common reader opinions or identify specific likes/dislikes about the book. The low number of ratings indicates this is not a widely read title, even among fans of the author's other works. Current availability appears limited to rare used copies, which may contribute to the scarcity of reader feedback.

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Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell A British soldier faces questions of loyalty and justice during the Napoleonic Wars while serving in Spain under Wellington's command.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy An English aristocrat maintains a secret identity to rescue French nobles during the French Revolution, balancing duty with personal risk.

The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope An English gentleman becomes entangled in royal intrigue in a foreign land, testing his principles of honor and duty.

🔹 French officers on parole during the Napoleonic Wars were often housed in small English towns, where they could move freely within a specified radius and were required to report regularly to local authorities. 🔹 D. K. Broster worked as a secretary at Oxford University's Somerville College and didn't begin publishing historical novels until age 40, going on to become one of the most respected historical novelists of the 1920s and 1930s. 🔹 The notorious Plymouth prison hulks mentioned in the book were decommissioned ships used as floating prisons, known for their horrific conditions with mortality rates reaching up to 30% during the Napoleonic Wars. 🔹 The novel draws inspiration from real historical practices where captured French officers could obtain "parole" - a gentleman's agreement not to escape - allowing them considerable freedom within their designated areas. 🔹 Dorothy Kathleen Broster meticulously researched her historical novels, often traveling to locations she wrote about and consulting primary sources, including military records and personal letters from the Napoleonic era.