Title: Elizabeth the Gallant

Author: Elinor Brent-Dyer

Publisher: Girls Gone By

Date: 2006 reprint

Pages: 349

Format: Paperback

Description

Elizabeth the Gallant was originally published in 1935 and is one of the rarest of Elinor Brent-Dyer’s books.  While Brent-Dyer is most famous for her Chalet School series, this is a historical novel, probably intended for adult readers.  This new edition contains the full text and original illustrations.

The plot synopsis from the back of the book reads:

“Left at home with her little sister while her parents are in attendance on the King and Queen at Oxford, Elizabeth Felthwaite longs to take part in the struggle against the Roundheads.  Her opportunity speedily comes.  Her brother arrives, bearing despatches to the King, but wounded and disabled.  Elizabeth takes the despatches to Oxford, meeting many perils on the way, and the King sends her on another errand, this time to London.  Here she is caught and imprisoned by a specially vindictive Roundhead.  She escapes and is taken by Lionel Eccles, a Puritan officer about to return to the king’s side, to the house of Sir Timothy Mostyn.  Both Lionel and Elizabeth are, however, in deadly peril, as he as a ‘recusant’, she an escaped prisoner, and it is only after many narrow escapes that they finally set sail for the New World, where we leave them in idyllic peace.”