The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)

"The Martins of Cro' Martin, Vol. II" by Charles James Lever continues the saga of the Martin family, centering on Captain Harry Martin and his complicated bond with the flamboyant Mr. Herman Merl, where Merl’s love of gambling and coarse manner brings stress and money issues into Martin’s life, as the storyline navigates ideas about friendship and how you fit into society, as well as what happens when gambling takes over, all within a developing world; opening with a scene in Paris, readers see the stark contrasts between the characters’ lives, and Captain Martin, returning to Paris after being away, feels let down by the city and his friendship with Merl, as Merl wants to enjoy the finer things in life, like fancy food and betting, where Martin internally fights against feeling disgusted by Merl’s crude behavior and his own financial problems; hints of bigger picture social dynamics show themselves, suggesting a deeper message about different social classes and how fake Parisian society can be, presenting a detailed situation for how the characters’ lives will now change.