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Brigands and robbers -- Fiction Books
Best books
Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
Paul Clifford — Complete
"Paul Clifford — Complete by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton" is a novel published in 1830. It follows Paul Clifford, a man of unknown origins who becomes a chivalrous highwayman during the French Revolution era. Living a double life as both criminal and gentleman, he falls in love with Lucy Brandon while disguised. When arrested and brought to trial, a shocking revelation about his true identity changes everything. The novel is famous for its opening line: "It was a dark and stormy night..."
Emmuska Orczy Orczy
Beau Brocade: A Romance
"Beau Brocade: A Romance by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Orczy" is a novel written in 1907. Set in Derbyshire after the Jacobite defeat, the story follows Philip James Gascoyne, the eleventh Earl of Stretton, who has been wrongly accused of treason and is hiding for his life. His only hope lies with a mysterious masked highwayman known as Beau Brocade, who steals from the rich to help the poor. As Philip desperately seeks to prove his innocence, danger closes in.
Edmond About
The King of the Mountains
"The King of the Mountains" by Edmond About is a French novel published in 1857. A German botanist searching for rare plants in Greece is kidnapped alongside a wealthy English mother and daughter by Hadgi-Stavros, a legendary brigand chief who once fought for Greek independence. As ransom demands mount and supposed rescuers prove corrupt, the captives discover that survival depends on navigating a treacherous world where heroism and villainy blur, and even escape may not bring the expected rewards.
A. J. Foster
The Robber Baron of Bedford Castle
"The Robber Baron of Bedford Castle" by A. J. Foster and Edith E. Cuthell is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. Set in the tumultuous early 13th century England, the story revolves around the conflict between the ejected De Beauchamp family, particularly young knight Ralph de Beauchamp, and the ruthless Fulke de Breauté, a lieutenant of King John who has taken control of Bedford Castle. The narrative explores themes of honor, rebellion, and the struggles of knights and nobles amid a backdrop of political turbulence and personal vendettas. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the serene yet foreboding landscape of Bedfordshire, particularly the Great Ouse River, as young Ralph de Beauchamp rides along its banks. He soon encounters a lay-brother of the Benedictine order who recounts the recent atrocities committed by Fulke de Breauté, including a brutal attack on the Abbey of St. Alban’s. Ralph's character is established as both noble and determined, embodying the attributes of a young knight eager to reclaim his family's honor. As he rides to Bletsoe Manor-House to see Aliva, the daughter of a local lord, the story hints at a romantic subplot amidst the chaos, setting the stage for the intertwined fates of love and conflict that will unfold throughout the book.
Edmond About
Le roi des montagnes
"Le roi des montagnes" by Edmond About is a French-language novel published in 1857. A young German botanist travels to Greece to study plants but is kidnapped by Hatzistavros, a legendary brigand chief who once fought in the Greek War of Independence. Held captive alongside a wealthy English mother and daughter, the botanist discovers a web of corruption connecting the brigands, Greek authorities, and high society. As ransom negotiations unfold and escape attempts fail, he must navigate deadly games of deception to survive.
S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould
Noémi
"Noémi" by S. Baring-Gould is a historical novel published in 1895. Set in fifteenth-century Aquitaine during English occupation, the story follows a countryside terrorized by Le Gros Guillem, a feared freebooter who raids from his stronghold at Domme. When desperate peasants rally under local leader Ogier del' Peyra to fight back, Guillem's daughter Noémi—a spirited beauty turned bandit—must choose between her father's violent world and her love for Ogier's son. The tale blends thrilling action with romance against the backdrop of a brutal historical period.
Edmond About
La Reĝo de la Montoj
"La Reĝo de la Montoj" by Edmond About is a novel published in 1909, translated into Esperanto by Gaston Moch. Set in Greece after the War of Independence, the story follows bandits who once fought as heroes but now terrorize the mountains. The cruel Haĝi-Stavros, the "King of the Mountains," runs his criminal enterprise like a business while maintaining political influence through corruption. When European travelers fall captive to these bandits, their own flaws and follies complicate their fate in this biting satire.
Jean Aicard
Le fameux chevalier Gaspard de Besse : $b ses dernières aventures
"Le fameux chevalier Gaspard de Besse : ses dernières aventures" by Jean Aicard is a historical novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Gaspard de Besse, a bandit of noble intentions, as he contemplates his past and future while imprisoned, seeking both redemption and escape. The narrative promises to explore themes of social justice and morality through the lens of Gaspard's adventures and interactions with various characters. The opening portion introduces Gaspard as he reflects on his life in a dark prison cell, where he passes time reading and contemplating his circumstances. We learn that he views his criminal acts as a means of achieving justice for the oppressed, despite the moral conflicts that arise from his position as a thief. Gaspard is gradually painted as a complex character with noble aspirations in the harsh reality of life, while he also interacts with his fellow prisoners and contemplates his love for a noblewoman, all while plotting his escape. The stage is set for his adventures that intertwine personal redemption and societal critique.
Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
Paul Clifford — Volume 04
"Paul Clifford — Volume 04" by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton is a novel likely written in the early 19th century, during a time when romanticism intertwined with societal observations in literature. This installment continues the story of Paul Lovett, a young man navigating a world of rogues and outlaws, exploring themes of love, honor, and the complexities of human relationships. At the start of the work, the story unfolds in a rough alehouse where Clifford, along with a motley crew of characters known for their questionable morality, gathers to recount their exploits. Here, tensions rise as Long Ned, one of Clifford's companions, challenges the aloofness of their leader, who is preoccupied with deeper thoughts about a lady named Miss Brandon. The narrative captures the camaraderie and bickering amongst these outlaws, while glimpses of Clifford's rich inner life suggest he yearns for something beyond their criminal existence. As the night progresses, themes of ambition, friendship, and unrequited love begin to surface, setting the stage for the dramatic and romantic entanglements that will ensue as the characters navigate their desires and aspirations.
Alexandre Dumas
The Sicilian Bandit From the Volume "Captain Paul"
"The Sicilian Bandit" by Alexandre Dumas is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. The story unfolds in Sicily and centers on Pascal Bruno, a young man with a tragic past related to his family's dark history and the consequences of noble betrayal. The narrative promises themes of love, vengeance, and the struggle between social classes, set against the richly depicted backdrop of Palermo and its cultural tensions. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the beautiful city of Palermo and its intertwining stories of ambition, pride, and love. We meet Countess Gemma, who is presented as a figure of beauty and nobility but finds herself in a complicated romantic entanglement involving her fiancé, Gaetano, and an unexpected visitor, Pascal Bruno. The events take a dramatic turn as Pascal confronts Gemma in a bid to negotiate his love for Teresa, a young woman betrothed to Gaetano, leading to tensions that ignite a deeper historical conflict tied to Pascal's father's execution. This opening sets the stage for a tale imbued with heroism, betrayal, and a bandit's quest for meaning amid the chaos of Sicilian politics and personal vendettas.
Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
Paul Clifford — Volume 01
"Paul Clifford — Volume 01" by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton is a novel published in 1830. It follows Paul Clifford, a man of unknown origins who falls into a life of crime as a highwayman while also posing as a gentleman. When he falls in love with Lucy Brandon during a confidence scheme, his dual existence becomes dangerously complicated. A fateful trial before Judge Brandon reveals a shocking family secret that changes everything.
Frederick H. Dewey
Cato, the creeper; or, The demon of Dead-Man's Forest
"Cato, the Creeper; or, The Demon of Dead-Man's Forest" by Frederick H. Dewey is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the eerie and treacherous setting of Dead-Man's Forest in Arkansas, focusing on characters like Cato, a freed slave known for his stealth, and Captain Charles Downing, a charming yet cruel leader of a band of robbers. The narrative hints at adventure, danger, and the exploration of human morals against a backdrop of lawlessness and suspense. At the start of the tale, we meet Cato as he wanders through the haunting forest, enjoying a carefree moment until his encounter with the intimidating Captain Fink, who is associated with Downing's notorious band. As the plot progresses, we see Downing and his gang's sinister activities, particularly their plans involving the beautiful Katie Jeffries, who is living in the nearby settlement. The opening portion sets the stage for a thrilling exploration of conflict between the settlers and the outlaws while introducing themes of loyalty, fear, and the struggle for survival in a perilous environment. The reader is drawn into a world filled with tension and foreboding, as Katie’s fate becomes intertwined with the machinations of Downing and his threatening crew.
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