504 Results in the "Historical Fiction" category


    • The Cavalry General Cover
      by LovelyMay The Calvary General by Charles Marshall is a classic military text that provides a detailed study of cavalry tactics and the art of mounted warfare. Written by an experienced officer, the book explores the strategies, challenges, and responsibilities of a cavalry general, emphasizing the unique demands of leading mounted troops. It offers insights into battlefield tactics, command decisions, and the adaptability required to manage fast-moving, dynamic cavalry forces effectively. This book serves as both a historical analysis and a tactical guide, valuable for understanding the pivotal role of cavalry in traditional warfare.
    • Chapter 1 – The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 1 – The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs introduces Rudolf Rassendyll as a man content with his leisurely lifestyle, unconcerned by the societal pressure to accomplish something deemed significant. Over breakfast, he is gently teased by Rose, his sister-in-law, who finds his life of casual comfort lacking in ambition. Her criticisms, while affectionate, highlight a growing gap between how society views worth and how Rudolf chooses to live. Though he doesn’t refute her outright, his…
    • Chapter 2 – Concerning the Colour of Men’s Hair Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 2 – Concerning the Colour of Men's Hair begins with Rudolf Rassendyll making good on his uncle’s peculiar but firm travel tradition: never pass through Paris without a stop. His brief stay involves reconnecting with George Featherly, a contact at the British Embassy, and dipping into the city's vibrant energy. George introduces him to Bertram Bertrand, a melancholic poet who openly obsesses over Antoinette Mauban—a woman known in aristocratic circles for her charm, intelligence, and…
    • Chapter 3 – A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 3 – A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative begins with Rudolf Rassendyll entering a new chapter of his travels with a seemingly ordinary offer of hospitality. Johann, a servant affiliated with Duke Michael, provides Rudolf with temporary accommodation when his original lodgings fall through. Seizing the chance to explore the landscape on foot, Rudolf meanders through the forest toward the railway, finding comfort in nature's quiet rhythm. The scene feels untouched by politics, status, or…
    • Chapter 4 – The King Keeps his Appointment Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 4 – The King Keeps his Appointment begins with Rudolf Rassendyll waking to find that the real King of Ruritania remains unconscious after what appears to be a deliberate act of sabotage. It is suspected that Black Michael, the King’s half-brother, orchestrated this by drugging him—likely with a sleeping draught mixed into his wine. Colonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim, both deeply loyal to the crown, immediately grasp the danger. If the King fails to appear at his coronation, Michael could…
    • Chapter 5 – The Adventures of an Understudy Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 5 – The Adventures of an Understudy opens with Rudolf stepping onto the platform, embodying his royal disguise with practiced ease. Armed with a revolver and sword, he exudes quiet confidence, aware of how critical appearances have become. A delegation of important figures greets him, including Marshal Strakencz, a battle-hardened symbol of national pride, and the Chancellor, whose solemnity reflects the weight of the occasion. Rudolf, now living as the King, greets each man with practiced poise.…
    • Chapter 6 – The Secret of a Cellar Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 6 – The Secret of a Cellar begins with Rudolf Rassendyll continuing his perilous masquerade as the King of Ruritania. Despite their initial success, the tension never truly subsides. As night falls, the urgency to flee Strelsau becomes pressing. Colonel Sapt, ever the strategist, presents a forged document meant to facilitate their escape. The trio—Rassendyll, Sapt, and Fritz von Tarlenheim—must rely on stealth, timing, and sheer nerve. Every step beyond the palace walls feels shadowed by…
    • Chapter 7 – His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 7 - His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau begins with Rudolf Rassendyll and Colonel Sapt catching their breath after a tense and dangerous mission. They had narrowly escaped from the hunting lodge where the real King had been imprisoned by Duke Michael’s men. Now back in the capital, Rassendyll must continue the daunting role of impersonating the King to protect both the kingdom and the captive monarch. With Michael holding the King hostage, every moment becomes a race against time, and every decision…
    • Chapter 8 – A Fair Cousin and a Dark Brother Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 8 - A Fair Cousin and a Dark Brother explores the growing complexity of Rudolf Rassendyll’s role as a royal imposter, as he settles more deeply into the life of a monarch. Throughout the day, Rudolf undergoes intense training to replicate the King's routines and mannerisms with perfect precision. Colonel Sapt, ever diligent and stern, drills him on every minor detail—from how the King prefers his wine uncorked to which foods he silently avoids at banquets. These details may seem trivial, but…
    • Chapter 9 – A New Use for a Tea-Table Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter 9 - A New Use for a Tea-Table continues the tense masquerade of Rudolf Rassendyll, who remains firmly entrenched in his dangerous role as the stand-in King of Ruritania. With every passing day, the weight of maintaining the illusion grows heavier, and yet he manages to keep suspicion at bay with the sheer boldness of his act. When Colonel Sapt informs him that the real King is being held under close watch in the Castle of Zenda, guarded by the formidable trio of Duke Michael’s loyal men, the…
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