Second to None: Restored Classics to Go Edition

· Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
172
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Sir Basil Gauntlet returns to the Scots Greys as Prince Ferdinand's army marches into Hesse, where polished Major Shirley carries news of the campaign and of Aurora, while the regiment steels itself for the clash with the French under the Duc de Broglie. On the eve of Minden, camaraderie is darkened by omen and prophecy: Lieutenant Keith is convinced he will die, haunted by a family legend, and Sir Basil receives Aurora's black-edged letter announcing his mother's death. Her affectionate, melancholy words stir him even as dawn brings the army to horse and the battle lines form near Minden, with the British cavalry and infantry standing under the shadow of death. The battle explodes in smoke, sabres, and musket fire, bringing Keith's fatal presentiment to fulfillment and ending in French rout, Prince Xavier of Saxony's death, and a grim reflection on lost chances, command failures, and the slaughter left behind. From this military tragedy the narrative turns to Paris, where Gervais Monjoy tells of Isabelle's secret love, her forced marriage to the cruel d'Escombas, and the poisoned "Death Ring" that nearly kills him. Wounded in body and spirit, he returns to service only to face fresh peril in a wintry landscape near an ivy-clad ruin, where a forester warns of Prussian Black Hussars and betrayal on the road. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
Sir Basil Gauntlet returns to the Scots Greys as Prince Ferdinand's army marches into Hesse, where polished Major Shirley carries news of the campaign and of Aurora, while the regiment steels itself for the clash with the French under the Duc de Broglie. On the eve of Minden, camaraderie is darke...

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About the author

James Grant was a Scottish novelist and journalist whose life moved between the worlds of letters, politics, and military history, shaping a career that made him one of the most popular storytellers of nineteenth-century Britain. Born in Edinburgh in 1822 and educated in the city's intellectual atmosphere, he wrote with the confidence of someone who understood both public affairs and the appetite of ordinary readers for vivid, fast-moving fiction. Over the course of his career, Grant became especially known for historical and military romances, producing a large body of novels that combined adventure, patriotism, and careful attention to the social and political forces behind conflict. His writing often explored courage, loyalty, class, ambition, and the costs of war, while also offering the excitement of dramatic action and strong narrative momentum. What gives his work lasting interest today is the way it reflects both the ideals and the tensions of his era: questions of duty, national identity, and the human consequences of military life remain familiar to modern readers, even when the settings are historical. Grant's legacy lies in his ability to make history feel immediate and personal, turning grand events into stories shaped by character and moral choice. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, military adventure, and richly observed Victorian storytelling will find much to appreciate in James Grant's work.

James Grant was a Scottish novelist and journalist whose life moved between the worlds of letters, politics, and military history, shaping a career that made him one of the most popular storytellers of nineteenth-century Britain. Born in Edinburgh in 1822 and educated in the city's intellectual a...

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