The Highwayman: A Novel Inspired by Alfred Noyes' Poem

by Deborah Ballou

Dashing and arrogant highwayman, Jeremy Knox, survives his bloody encounter with King George's soldiers . . . barely. The prison theft of his clothes and the unexpected help of a hero-worshipping boy conspire in his favor, and another man swings in his place. The world thinks him dead, and dead he must stay if he's to escape a future hanging.Jeremy's will to recover from his injuries is second only to his desire for revenge on his betrayer. He spurns the kindness of new friends, choosing instead to rely on his former distrust of others to get by. Soon his new life, so dearly bought with the self-sacrifice of his pretty sweetheart, Bess, seems empty and purposeless. A series of misadventures leaves his life hanging in the balance once again. If he's to survive, he must realize before it's too late that the love of a practical young woman and the trust of a family he never thought he'd have are far more precious treasures than the ones he once stole along the Yorkshire roads. The Highwayman takes the reader not only on a spirited ride through eighteenth century England but on one man's journey toward reclamation and renewal.

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2002

Reviews

[Camille Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, is a poem about two people who are in love and they aren't supposed to be. The girl Bess and the Highwayman meet each other and are overheard by another man who is in love with Bess. After the Highwayman leaves, you can infer that the other man told the redcoats about him and Bess. She is then captured by the redcoats and shoots herself in order to warn the Highwayman, who then runs away. He tries to avenge her but fails and dies himself. The story is still told as a legend. The characters in this poem seem really believable because they are in love and would do anything for each other. The author makes the way that they look really clear, like Bess have long-black hair and how the highwayman dressed very fancy for the time. One memorable was that "The Highwayman came riding, riding, riding." I really liked this book because they were in love and not really supposed to be.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Alfred Noyes is a very good book. It has many twists and turns that keep u wanting to read. Now the wording is a little weird, just read it slow and more than once. This book has a love, action story that keeps u wanting to read. There is a girl that loves a bad guy and she has a lover that hates the bad guy. So he tries to take care of it by telling the police, but that plans back fires.This book called the The Highwayman. All in all this book is a great book to read it has the perfect love story and action story. I really like the book it is great