St. Ives: Being the Adventures of a French Prisoner in England

"St. Ives: Being the Adventures of a French Prisoner in England" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a historical fiction novel that plunges into the life of Anne de Keroual de St. Yves, a French soldier turned prisoner during the Napoleonic Wars. The story kicks off inside a Scottish prison where St. Yves uses humor and observation to make sense of it all. He meets other prisoners, deals with English officers, and develops feelings for a young Englishwoman named Flora, creating a push and pull between his high birth and his current low situation. The narrative showcases his attempts to hold on to his dignity while imprisoned, capturing the birth of friendships and a love that blossoms in captivity. The overall tone is one of resilience and the search for self, setting up a story where St. Yves must find his way in a world turned upside down.