A Tatter of Scarlet: Adventurous Episodes of the Commune in the Midi 1871

"A Tatter of Scarlet: Adventurous Episodes of the Commune in the Midi 1871" by S. R. Crockett is a story that follows Angus Cawdor, a young Scottish boy, and his friend Hugh Deventer, as they find themselves amidst the chaos of France's Commune in the Midi after the Franco-Prussian War. Narrated by Angus, the novel examines their longing for adventure and the rising tensions fueled by labor problems at a local factory; the boys get wrapped up in the revolutionary spirit of the time. Longing to escape their school life in Aramon, Angus dreams of heroism and joining Garibaldi's army, they consider joining Garibaldi's red-shirted volunteers. The narrative introduces the main characters and sets a stage where personal dramas get intwined with big national issues, preparing the reader for their upcoming adventures during the Commune.