An unexpected Frenchman

[anteros_lmc]

Another little gem from Michael Lewis' Napoleon and his British Captives. Lewis is talking here not of a Naval officer, but of a young détenu, one of the hundreds of British civilians detained in France on Napoleon's orders in 1803, who escaped from the depot of Verdun.

A certain Peter Blagrove, quite a lad, climbed down the walls of Verdun with, as his unexpected companion, a Frenchman of his own age. They had no passports, of course, but, on approaching Strasbourg, bought a horse cart and load of hay. With these they boldly entered the town, saying they intended to sell it there. They left by another gate, offering the same story, which worked all the way through Switzerland. There they procured passports for Trieste. This place was the Mecca for most east-going escapers because British frigates were often off the port, if not actually in it. History does not relate what happened to the young Frenchman, nor even what his intentions were.

Well indeed. One can not help but wonder what the intentions of young Mr Blagrove and his unexpected companion were! :)

Lewis, M., (1962), Napoleon and his British Captives, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

So much unsaid. Wonder how they came to be together... Clever boys, were they not?

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Very clever boys. And I hope they enjoyed their freedom. Lewis gives no date for this escape but, as a détenu, Blagrove must have been at Verdun since early 1804. Who knows how they met? At a club? At the races? At a soiree? The détenus led colourful lives!

So much unsaid.
Indeed. The silences speak volumes.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking that 'An unexpected Frenchman' would make a great title for a fiction fest

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes, that's a good idea! Although we'd do well to come up with a story more extraordinary than the original!

My favourite quote for a fic prompt is still this one :)

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

What a story!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't it amazing? Some of these POW stories are more extraordinary than anything you could make up!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

Still hoping we might find the infill for the Indy's own historical escapers - I think we might do so yet !

This was a great snippet - thanks for posting it

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

One thing I've learned from this book is just how different conditions were for POWs before and after 1803. I suspect our Indy boys will be harder to trace as, if they made it on to French soil, they are likely to have been held in the nearest depot and then promptly exchanged in the first available cartel.

It is a lovely snippet isn't it? I adore these tiny little glimpses into unknown lives :)