In the Name of a Woman
(Frederick A. Stokes, 1900)
Gerald Winthrop (alias Count Benderoff of Radova) is an Englishman in Bulgaria on a secret assignment. His job is to uncover the Russian plot against the Bulgarian government, and find out what their exact plans are. While on an evening stroll, Winthrop rescues the beautiful but treacherous Countess Bokara from an abduction. She is the mistress of the reigning Prince of Bulgaria, whom the Russians wish to depose. When news gets abroad of her deliverance, General Kolfort, agent of the Russian faction, decoys Winthrop to his headquarters and attempts to force him to enlist under the Black Eagle. By refusing Kolfort's offer, his safety will be jeopardized. But Winthrop decides to run the risk. It so happens about this time that Winthrop befriends the Princess Christina, who is plausibly serving Kolfort's faction, but who in fact wishes to free Bulgarian from Russian authority.
Winthrop zealously espouses Christina's cause, thus making enemies with the Russian party. He uses his home as a headquarters for a patriotic movement whose end will be to put Christina on the throne. In this he is strongly opposed by Kolfort, who hopes to arrange a marriage between Christina and Count Sergius, a horrid brute whom Winthrop detests. When Kolfort's plans are thwarted, he tries to use Countess Bokara to infiltrate the pro-Bulgarian party, but without success. This creates a number of intriguing situations, in one of which Count Sergius forces a quarrel upon Winthrop, and a duel takes place. Incidentally, Winthrop realizes that he loves Princess Christina, and when this feeling is reciprocated, he vows to do all he can to free her from danger and place her on the throne she so justly deserves. But Kolfort and the Russian faction have different plans. This involves abduction of the reigning prince, as well as possible harm to Christina herself. Winthrop grabs his sword and prepares for all-out warfare.
This fast-moving novel represents what is probably the cream of the "Imperial Intrigue" genre. It attained great success in America, and was reprinted several times. The story is racy and energetic, the characters painted in bold colors, and there is little mincing about. Marchmont tackles his tale with all the vigor of a general planning his campaign, and all the heroic stuff of action and adventure flow from his pen with a naturalness that is quite admirable. The style is clear-cut and nicely polished. Although the end pages contain some mushy sentiment, this factor is negligible-- for the story resounds with the thunder of a cavalry charge. Overall, it is a man's book. An early reviewer wrote: "Mr. Marchmont is a rough-and-ready inventor of tales of derring-do. His books are 'good stuff' to a certain class of readers who like adventures, dangers, narrow escapes, and dark intrigues for their own sake." The author certainly lives up to reputation in the present work.
The story is evidently based on real history, albeit Marchmont sits very loosely to the facts. The local color, however, is "the real deal," and as genuine as the most rigid pundit could desire. This novel will have particular interest to students of dueling, as the whole affair and procedure of the European duel is gone into in some detail. Never mind reading special books on the duello, for Marchmont's novels are really the best place to get the information. What ever happened to duels, anyhow? The "affair of honor" must have evaporated sometime during WWI; and it was Lord Dunsany's regret that the nations had lowered their honor to such a point as to resort to poison. But here we enter the rush and splendor of the European stage as it was in 1900. It is a memorable picture, and one which we are not likely to soon forget.
Thankfully, the novel is rather easy to find. Old editions may be procured without too much draft on one's pecuniary resources (which is a roundabout way of saying 'cheap! cheap!'). As far as I know, there are two American editions of this work-- one published by F.A. Stokes ( of which I own the Second Edition) and another issued by Grosset & Dunlap around 1902. The novel contains some intriguing illustrations by D. Murray Smith. The story was first published as a serial in The Junior Munsey (April-December 1900). It cashes in on the popular demand for tales set in foreign and exotic places. And such fiction indeed reached its apex about this period, after which it underwent a rapid decline in the decade prior to the breakout of WWI. Today, however, we find fresh joy in such works. And it is happy day for the escapist when he breaks open the old wine and marvels how it stayed hidden for so long.
--B.A.S.
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