The First of the English: A Novel

"The First of the English: A Novel" by Archibald Clavering Gunter is a historical fiction set in the late 1500s when Spain ruled the Netherlands. It follows Captain Guy Stanhope Chester, a young English captain who faces danger at sea and on land, motivated by love and a sense of responsibility. The story begins with Chester and his ship, the Dover Lass, caught in a terrible storm near the Schelde River during a massive flood in the Netherlands that is creating disasters. Chester's interactions with his crew show him as a capable leader as they battle both the storm and the potential for running into Spanish ships. Chester's character takes a heroic turn when he chooses to save a captured Spanish woman, suggesting a future romance and dangerous escapades. When key documents are found on a dead Italian man, Chester becomes mixed up in a larger world of political secrets, promising a tale of courage, secret missions, and fighting for freedom in a time of great risk.