Jim Harrison, boxeur

Set against the bustling streets of Georgian London and the windswept cliffs of Sussex, the novel paints a lively picture of an England caught between aristocratic excess and the raw energy of the boxing ring. From dandies in Prince Albert’s circle to hardened sailors of Nelson’s fleet, the story captures a society where physical prowess is both spectacle and a symbol of national resilience. Against this backdrop, the sport of pugilism pulses through taverns and everyday life, reflecting a nation’s stubborn defiance of pain and danger.

At the heart of it all is Jim Harrison, a former champion who, after a near‑fatal bout, settled as a blacksmith in the quiet village of Friar’s Oak. He trains young fighters, mentors the curious Rodney Stone, and finds himself drawn into the tangled affairs surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Lord Avon at the Royal Cliff. Alongside the aging actress Miss Hinton, whose faded fame hides a craving for solace, Harrison becomes an unlikely protector, navigating rivalries, wagers and the shadowy politics of the ring.