Beadle's Pocket Novels No. 215: Prisoner of La Vintresse

About this issue

By Mary A. Denison. Beadle and Adams pocket novel (circa 1860). Herman Goreham and his cousin Minerva execute an escape from Havana aboard the merchant vessel Eagle. After boarding, Herman returns to retrieve forgotten papers, instructing Minerva to await his return. She falls asleep and wakes to discover the ship has set sail—Herman never boarded. The captain confirms the boat returned without him after waiting beyond schedule. Delirious from seasickness and fear, Minerva reveals to the sympathetic stewardess Bandola that mysterious pursuers forced her escape; she dreads Herman was detained, captured, or killed. The captain and crew express regret but cannot return. Minerva oscillates between hope that Herman will follow on another vessel and despair that malevolent forces—implied to involve her family or political authorities—have prevented his departure. The narrative establishes romantic peril and separation as central plot elements.