
A restless spirit roams the battle‑torn roads of 18th‑century Europe, chasing fortune and vengeance with a daring that borders on the reckless. Ferdinand, a strikingly clever but morally ambiguous young noble, is raised by his formidable mother, a hardened camp‑follower whose fierce loyalty to her son knows no bounds. Their early exploits thrust them into a world of duels, intrigue, and shifting allegiances, setting the stage for a dangerous game of power.
When a sudden encounter with a hussar officer ends in a brutal exchange, the mother’s fierce resolve meets a grim fate, leaving Ferdinand to navigate the treacherous aftermath alone. He crosses paths with Count de Melvil, a noble yet idealistic peer, and Joshua, a principled scholar whose steadfast morals contrast sharply with Ferdinand’s cunning. Together they become entangled in a web of rivalries, secret schemes, and the promise of wealth that beckons from distant horizons.
Amidst this swirl of characters, the enigmatic Monimia appears—a captivating figure whose presence hints at love, betrayal, or both. As Ferdinand’s ambitions grow, the listener is drawn into a vivid tapestry of adventure, where every choice may tip the balance between glory and ruin, and the line between hero and villain blurs with each daring deed.
Language
en
Duration
~16 hours (946K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Tapio Riikonen and David Widger Updated: 2022-10-30.
Release date
2004-09-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1721–1771
A sharp, energetic voice of 18th-century fiction, he brought comic chaos and restless travel to novels that still feel brisk and alive. Trained as a surgeon and drawn to satire, he wrote with the speed, bite, and eye for character that made him one of the great picaresque storytellers in English.
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