Mr. Rowl

by D.K. Broster

It was quite likely that at an earlier stage of the afternoon the youthful and lively little company in the drawing room at Northover had been playing forfeits, or something equally childish. But when Mr. Ralph Bentley, the owner of Northover, strolled along the terrace about half-past five o’clock with a couple of companions, they were making music, for a very pleasant tenor voice came floating through the windows, which, because it was a fine mid-March day, were slightly open. The voice was singing “Since First I Saw Your Face.”

Genres: Historical Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1924

About the author

Dorothy Kathleen Broster (1877 - 1950) produced 15 popular historical novels between 1911 and 1947.

The Yellow Poppy (1920) about the adventures of an aristocratic couple during the French Revolution, was later adapted by Broster and W. Edward Stirling for the London stage in 1922. She produced her bestseller Scottish historical novel, The Flight of the Heron, in 1925. Broster stated she had consulted eighty reference books before beginning the novel. She followed it up with two successful sequels, The Gleam in the North and The Dark Mile. She wrote several other historical novels, successful and much reprinted in their day, although this Jacobite trilogy (inspired by a five-week visit to friends in Scotland), featuring the dashing hero Ewen Cameron, remains the best known.

The Flight of the Heron was adapted for BBC Radio twice, in 1944, starring Gordon Jackson as Ewen Cameron, and again in 1959, starring Bryden Murdoch as Cameron. Murdoch also starred in radio adaptations of the book's sequels, The Gleam in the North and The Dark Mile.

Reviews

[Hyarrowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

D K Broster specialises in works exploring male friendship in time of war, and the conflicting demands of that friendship and of soldierly honour. This is one of her best, following the fortunes of a captured soldier of Napoleon throughout one year of his involuntary residence in England.

The hero is most attractive, though frequently infuriating, and his sense of honour and duty entangles him in one awkward situation after another. Raoul de Sablieres – Mr Rowl – in an effort to protect his lady-love, the daughter of an English nobleman, first lands himself in a prison-camp, then in a prison-ship, and finally has to run for his life, almost losing it in the process. It's only by the good offices of a new-found friend, a Royal Navy captain, whom he first puts through a very humiliating experience, that the tangled affairs of Mr Rowl are unravelled.

I felt a great deal of sympathy for poor Captain Barrington, coping with the wildcat that landed in his life; liked Juliana a lot for her determination to save her Frenchman; and there's a host of minor but equally memorable characters - for instance Juliana's father, who intimidates everyone by his resemblence to the Duke of Wellington but does not share his personality, and Lavinia, Captain Barrington's sister whose good sense and sense of humour are instrumental in both complicating and then unravelling the story. And the writing; how does the author manage to convey the spirit of place and time so well?

[Surreysmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

[These comments were made in 1983:]. Memories of Edinburgh, and the night I couldn't put this down until it was finished. Once again I looked at my watch as I finished the last page and saw to my horror and amusement that it was 3 a.m. The central motifs of this one are much like those of Heron - ennobling love of man for woman, and ennobling love of man for man. Honour with capital H is the binding thread of all the "good" characters in the novel. But the central male pair are more father-son than brother-brother. Broster has a curious view of the French character: she sees it as outrageously handsome, sparkling and soft in the middle! Oh I do love to wallow in a well-handled novel of sentiment!

[Matthew Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most people I discovered D.K. Broster through 'The Flight of the Heron' and the other novels in that series. 'Mr Rowl' was a lovely holiday read and I would gladly share it with friends. Given that the beautiful young hero is rather adept at cross-dressing and becomes closely involved with a middle-aged bachelor naval captain who loves and hates him in equal measure, one of my university colleagues could probably write a criticism-by-numbers journal article on sublimated desire and D. K. Broster's queer sensibility. I just really enjoyed it for what it was.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I can adequately express how much I enjoyed this novel. Historical narration and accuracy is splendid. Pardon my cliche but this captivating story was literally a rollercoaster of emotions. For every exciting moment, every turn in favour of our dear "Mr. Rowl" there was a devastating blow. I frequently was angered by the French prisoner-of-war but in a way that applauds the author in her excellent writing and stubbornly well-written characters. I very much enjoyed her novel "Flight of the Heron" as well but "Mr. Rowl" may just nearly be my favourite. D.K. Broster is terribly underknown by fans of historical fiction such as myself.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very enjoyable, following the misadventures of a young French officer who is a prisoner in england during the Napoleonic Wars. The protagonist, Capitaine Raoul de Sablieres, is young, sweet, and honourable, and seems to have extremely bad luck, as he falls into worse and worse messes as the book continues. Luckily, he has an ally in Lady Juliana Forrest, who befriends him early on and considers herself responsible for some of his misfortunes, and will stop at very little to rescue him.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable quite light hearted historical novel with some engaging characters, written in 1924, about Napoleonic prisoners of war in England, and machinations of a French captain (who had no choice but to break his parole) on the run. All the chapter headings refer to quotations from "Rasselas" so maybe that needs to be read soon.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romp with a great deal of whump, as the titular hero (really Raoul, a French prisoner of war) suffers injury and illness and misunderstandings both comedic and dramatic. The characters are what really makes this sparkle, from the English woman he falls in love with to the British captain who first tries to capture him, then gradually comes to respect and care about him. An easy, enjoyable read.

[grosbeak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful sentimental historical novel of misadventures and derring-do.