And always at the back of Laurent's mind was the instinctive knowledge that, before he was brought to Arbelles, he must have
been through some terrible experience to be so completely changed. The very attractive, courteous, self-contained young man of last year, with his modesty, his easy and quiet gaiety, his consideration for others, was entirely gone, and in his place was a phantom of that figure, sombre and tortured, too sore in spirit to accept the most willing sympathy and service. His very voice was changed. No; it was plain to Laurent that the slander was at the back of all thathad happened to him even before he came to the chateau. And what exactly had happened ? Every day, every hour, the situation seemed to blossom into fresh horrible
possibilities; and before that agonised silence one was helpless. For that he would hear now from the victim's own lips
the story of what he had undergone seemed so improbable that Laurent had given up considering it. The best he could
hope for was that he could continue to nurse him without being asked point-blank to leave him.
An edition of The Wounded Name
(1922)
The wounded name.
by D. K. Broster
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Set at the tail end of the Napoleonic Wars, The Wounded Name tells the story of Laurent de Courtomer, whose noble family left France for England as a result of the French Revolution. After Napoleon abdicates the French throne in 1813, Laurent prepares to return to France with his family, but not before meeting a legendary hero of the French forces -- Aymar de la Rocheterie, also known as L'Oiseleur. Aymar's exploits in the army, both real and mythological, have spread far and wide among the Royalist populace. He and Laurent become fast friends, and Laurent in particular finds himself infatuated and lost in hero-worship.
When he finally does move to France, Laurent joins the Royalist Army. He intends to meet with Aymar again during his tour of duty, but is captured by Imperialist forces along the way. However, he soon discovers that Aymar himself is not only a fellow prisoner, he is severely wounded and disgraced -- the Imperialists found him tied to a tree after Aymar's own men apparently tried to execute him. He is an outcast, now; the Royalists consider him a traitor and the Imperialists consider him an enemy prisoner. But Laurent is not swayed. As the only friend Aymar has left, Laurent is determined to help his hero heal both physically and mentally as he tries to deduce the truth behind the charge of treason and the botched execution.
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Subjects
French Revolution, homoerotic fiction, male friendship, romance, Napoleonic Wars, pre-slash, slash, loyalty, romantic friendshipPlaces
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Book Details
Edition Notes
Originally published, Heinemann,1922.
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Excerpts
Page 79,
added by Gigi B..
"But, my God," came desperately from the bed, "that is the one thing I want... to be left alone. And instead of that he... who knew me once... was in the room... and heard... everything ! Can't he be put somewhere else... can't I be alone ? " The voice was almost sobbing in its entreaty.
Poor Laurent, in his bed, covered his face with his hands. So much for his dreams of a grateful recognition! Yes, that was it, as he had felt at the time — the intolerable humiliation, to a very proud and sensitive spirit, of having had an acquaintance a witness of Friday's proceedings.
There was a movement behind the screen. "Chut! mon enfant!" said the doctor. "You must not agitate yourself like this! M. de Courtomer is here of his own free will to nurse you, and he is so much your champion that he has twice already fought your battle with the Colonel. And if he had not fetched me in after that business on Friday—"
"I wish he had not!" broke in the faint, bitter voice. "You are kind, Doctor... but if you would only let me die..."
Poor Laurent, in his bed, covered his face with his hands. So much for his dreams of a grateful recognition! Yes, that was it, as he had felt at the time — the intolerable humiliation, to a very proud and sensitive spirit, of having had an acquaintance a witness of Friday's proceedings.
There was a movement behind the screen. "Chut! mon enfant!" said the doctor. "You must not agitate yourself like this! M. de Courtomer is here of his own free will to nurse you, and he is so much your champion that he has twice already fought your battle with the Colonel. And if he had not fetched me in after that business on Friday—"
"I wish he had not!" broke in the faint, bitter voice. "You are kind, Doctor... but if you would only let me die..."
Page 67-68,
added by Gigi B..
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| September 25, 2014 | Edited by Gigi B. | Edited without comment. |
| September 25, 2014 | Edited by Gigi B. | Edited without comment. |
| September 25, 2014 | Edited by Gigi B. | Added new cover |
| September 25, 2014 | Edited by Gigi B. | Edited without comment. |
| December 11, 2009 | Created by WorkBot | add works page |