The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. From the Author of Beau Geste, Stories of the Foreign Legion, Cupid in Africa, Stepsons of France, Snake and Sword, Port o' Missing Men & The Young StagersBy P. C. Wren
Length10h 47m
About this audiobook
The Wages of Virtue is a vigorous specimen of early twentieth-century imperial adventure fiction, shaped by P. C. Wren's characteristic fascination with honour, exile, comradeship, and moral endurance under pressure. Set against the hard, romanticized world of soldiering and colonial frontier life, the novel blends melodrama, irony, and brisk narrative momentum with a code-of-conduct seriousness typical of the post-Victorian adventure tradition. Its title points to Wren's central paradox: virtue is not rewarded sentimentally, but tested through sacrifice, misunderstanding, and danger. P. C. Wren, best known for Beau Geste, drew much of his imaginative power from the culture of empire, military discipline, and the mythology of the French Foreign Legion. Educated at Oxford and long associated with British imperial India, he possessed an insider's ear for hierarchical institutions, barrack-room loyalties, and the theatrical rituals of masculine honour. Whether factual or self-fashioned, his supposed proximity to legionary experience helped him create fiction charged with authenticity and romantic glamour. This book is recommended to readers who value classic adventure with ethical weight: not merely action, but action governed by loyalty, restraint, and tragic consequence.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.7 (65)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing
GenreAction and Adventure
Length10 hrs 47 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 12, 2015
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (pt. 1)
Show all chaptersShow less
6The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (pt. 2)
7The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (pt. 3)
8The Wages of Virtue (Adventure Classic) (pt. 4)
9Analysis
10Reflection
11Memorable Quotes
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