St. George's Cross; Or, England Above All

Set against the rugged beauty of the Channel Islands in the turbulent year of 1649, this tale paints a vivid picture of a world caught between the fading echo of royalist loyalties and the rising tide of republican ideals. The prose brings the island’s windswept cliffs, bustling ports, and cramped London lodgings to life, while subtly echoing the larger political upheavals that have upended the lives of its inhabitants.

At the heart of the story are two unlikely companions: a disgraced former Member of Parliament, still clinging to his convictions despite being cast out by both Cavaliers and Roundheads, and Michael Lempriere, a once‑powerful seigneur now reduced to teaching French in exile. Their tense dialogue, sparked by a chance meeting in a London window‑seat, reveals a clash of ambition, loss, and the lingering hope of redemption. As they debate the future of liberty and the role of the individual in a changing world, the narrative captures the fragile balance between personal honor and the harsh realities of political survival.