Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718)

"Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins" by Daniel Defoe is a recount of the exciting life and experiences of Major Alexander Ramkins during the early 1700s. As a Highland officer, Ramkins looks back on almost thirty years of fighting battles and seeing new places, such as Scotland, Germany, Italy, and Ireland. The story looks at being faithful to a cause and getting mixed up in politics, all while Ramkins deals with his own love life during times of war. Beginning with his younger years, Major Ramkins remembers fighting in the Battle of Gillycranky and then deciding to join the military. An older officer teaches him about fighting strategies and how political groups can be dishonest. This starts him on a path through different military adventures. He starts thinking about why powerful people do what they do, especially when King James II tries to get his throne back with help from France, and it also suggests some of his own personal problems, like taking care of his family and finding love. This creates an interesting mix of personal feelings and historical events, helping us understand what war and loyalty really mean.