The Rover

The story takes place in the south of France, against the backdrop of the French Revolution, Napoleon's rise to power and the French/English rivalry in the Mediterranean. Peyrol, a retired French freebooter, settles near Toulon, where the French fleet commanded by  Villeneuve is blockaded by Nelson. He sacrifices his life to deceive Nelson into withdrawing the British fleet, allowing the French fleet to escape.

The novel is mainly land based but with sea scenes and it is one of very few books showing the war from the French point of view.