Set in the chaotic aftermath of the Battle of Worcester in 1651, this novel follows the young King Charles II as he flees from Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army. Trapped in a country where his face is known and his death is sought, the future monarch must adopt various disguises, from a woodman to a servant. Assisted by loyalists like Lord Wilmot and Jane Lane, he moves between safe houses and hiding spots, including the famous Boscobel oak tree, while attempting to secure passage to France.
Readers of historical fiction and seventeenth-century history choose this book for its meticulous attention to the physical details of the English Civil War. It appeals to those who enjoy tactical suspense and dry wit over sentimental drama. The reader gains a granular understanding of the logistical difficulties of mid-seventeenth-century travel and the specific risks taken by the Royalist underground. The narrative provides a psychological portrait of a displaced ruler maintaining his humor and composure under the constant threat of execution.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1938
- Language
- EN
