A wounded soldier's impulsive marriage in wartime Spain sets in motion a family tragedy of pride, misunderstanding, and lost affection. Roland's union with Ramouna, daughter of a Spanish widow, is shaped by cultural division, jealousy, and the unstable influences surrounding their child, while his later attempts to restore order through education only produce a clever but morally unformed son. What follows is a devastating study of father and child: Vivian grows into a restless, secretive drifter drawn to debt, gambling, and disguise, even as Roland pursues him across England and France with a grief that never quite hardens into rejection. At the heart of the story is a painful question of mercy, duty, and identity. Vivian's desperate estrangement from his father, and his eventual attempt to sever the bond on his own terms, leads to a final confrontation in which love and pride collide. Yet his concealed ambition also opens a path toward reinvention in London society, where sympathetic allies begin to glimpse the wounded honor beneath his mask. Rich in domestic conflict and emotional intensity, the novel traces the cost of broken trust and the longing to be recognized, forgiven, and restored. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
