The Middy and the Moors: An Algerine Story

A young English midshipman, fresh from the bustling drawing‑room of a Nice hotel, sets out on a moonless night filled with star‑strewn skies and the soft glow of the city lights. He bids farewell to his mother and sister with cheerful promises, his buoyant spirit and love of poetry spilling into every word. The promise of a simple, exhilarating row across the Mediterranean seems a perfect escape for the restless soul who craves both duty and romance.

He pushes off into the calm sea, confident in his strength and skill, only to be met by an unexpected squall that rapidly swells into a fierce gale. As the wind tears at his small boat and the coastal lights fade, the young officer finds himself battling the elements, his promise to return growing ever more uncertain. Listeners are drawn into the tension of a night where bravery meets nature’s raw power, setting the stage for a tale of survival, unexpected capture, and the indomitable spirit that will drive him onward.