It’s the Napoleonic Wars, and Francis Ellery, owner of The Tablet newspaper, is trying to convince the British public that the government needs to do more to fight off a prospective invasion. He faces the disapproval of his family and even prison time for criticizing the government’s actions, and eventually makes his way to the Peninsular campaign to serve as a war correspondent for Robert “Riding Bobby” Wilson. In between, he meets and falls in love with a French exile named Gabrielle de Salle.

This is a somewhat romantic historical novel, written during the Second World War, so the writing style may be a little bit heavier than modern readers might be used to. That said, it does move along pretty well, mainly when there are exciting personal-level plots like breaking people out of jail, rather than talking about the battles and campaigns. Wellington makes several appearances, and I definitely pictured him as Hugh Fraser because of the Sharpe series. I cringed somewhat at Francis’s love for Gabrielle because it was a very possessive love (saying she “belonged” to him), but she certainly holds her own. As for other female characters, Francis’s aunt Francilea was my favourite, because she brooked no nonsense and supported her nephew in his work.

I’m not sure if I would re-read this, but I would certainly read other books by Costain (which is good, because I have two more of his books on my shelf). ( )

Historical novel based on the career of Sir Robert Wilson, a dashing British officer of the Napoleonic era, blended with the story a a fictionalized British family owning an innovative newspaper. I recall enjoying it when young, but the recollection is dim. ( )